'No messing around' for Poppies' crucial clash

Kettering Town boss Marcus Law applauds the travelling fans following his side's FA Trophy exit at Leek Town on Saturday. Pictures by Peter Short

It’s a big night for the Poppies as the trip down the M11 represents a game in hand on the three teams above them.

A win will send Law’s team above third-placed Weymouth and move them back to within a point of the top two - Slough Town and King’s Lynn Town.

But to do that, the Poppies will have to stop the rot after a run of six matches without a victory in all competitions.

Aaron O'Connor and Lindon Meikle celebrate after the former brought Kettering level at 2-2 before they were eventually beaten 3-2 at Leek Town at the weekend

They suffered their third defeat of the season as they were dumped out of the FA Trophy when they went down 3-2 at lower-ranked Leek Town at the weekend.

Boss Law again made a number of changes to his squad with the likes of Gary Mulligan and Mathew Stevens not even included in the matchday 16.

But it is likely to be a different story this evening and going forward as the Poppies bid to stay in the upper reaches of the table.

Law said: “We will focus on the league. I know that’s a bit of a cliche after we have just come out of a knockout competition but the league remains our top priority.

“We made more changes on Saturday and everyone could see that some key players were not involved.

“There will certainly be no messing about when it comes to that tonight.

“Everything we do is aimed at the league campaign. We have had our fun in the cup competitions but now we have to focus.

“There is a very important run coming up between now and Christmas and we have to make sure we grind out some results in the league.”