Poppies player in self-isolation as team loses out at Telford

Midfielder Alistair Smith, who is on loan with the Poppies from Mansfield Town, was taken poorly with a fever this morning.

The Vanarama National League North game still went ahead, however, despite other matches being called off with players from other clubs showing symptoms of the coronavirus.

The National League were one of the few leagues across the country to allow their matches to go ahead after the Premier League and Football League had called off all matches until April 4 at the earliest in a dramatic day for the sport yesterday.

In a statement released ahead of kick-off in Shropshire, the Poppies said: “All of us here at Kettering Town wish Alistair Smith a speedy recovery after he collapsed with a fever this morning. We are hearing he has been moved into seven-day isolation. All the best Ali.”

On the pitch, the Poppies went into the clash on the back of four successive draws but found themselves on the back foot for most of the opening period.

Paul White made a good early save to deny Ryan Barnett and Williams shot straight at the Kettering goalkeeper soon after.

But it was Telford who took control with two goals in the space of five minutes.

The first arrived just past he half-hour when Bucks debutant Ryan Sears finished things off after a Brendon Daniels corner had been headed back across goal by Shane Sutton.

And just five minutes later the lead was doubled as Barnett’s low shot beat White and found its way in off the far post.

The Poppies might have pulled one back late in the half when Brett Solkhon was unable to get the decisive touch to finish Lindon Meikle’s cross to the far post.

Cox brought both Michael McGrath and Jason Law on at half-time in place of Matthew Taylor and Meikle but the game looked to be up for the Poppies on 64 minutes when Aaron Williams headed home a Barnett cross.

But Kettering did give themselves a lifeline four minutes later and the goal came in fine style with another Mansfield loanee Omari Sterling-James giving home goalkeeper Russ Griffiths no chance as he found the top corner with an excellent 20-yard strike.

Sterling-James was off target with another effort but the Poppies were unable to find another goal and it needed a fine save from White to turn over a Matty Stenson headed to keep the scoreline down.

The defeat means Kettering are now without a win in their last seven matches but remain nine points clear of the relegation zone.

They will now wait to see if Tuesday’s scheduled home match with Guiseley or any games that follow it will go ahead.