Poppies victorious in friendly at Hemel Hempstead

Kettering Town claimed a 3-2 friendly at Hemel Hempstead Town at the weekend as they kept themselves fresh for any potential restart in the National League North.

The season is seemingly hanging in the balance with a two-week suspension due to expire on Friday but clubs at Steps 1 and 2 are expected to vote on what should become of the campaign early this week.

A number of clubs, including Kettering, have expressed their concerns over taking out a government loan to keep themselves going after they had been led to believe that further grants would be provided after clubs had received grants to cover the first three months of the season due to games being played behind closed doors.

The Poppies are one of 16 clubs who reiterated their stance at the end of last week and called for the season to be curtailed.

However, should they be forced to continue the campaign, it will restart with a home clash against Chester on Saturday and, despite the uncertainty, manager Paul Cox insisted they would continue to prepare as best they could.

That seems to be why the friendly was organised at National League South side Hemel, who play on a 4G surface at their Vauxhall Road home.

Hemel took the lead through Sam Mantom but Connor Kennedy levelled and then, on the stroke of half-time, Decarrey Sheriff put the Poppies in front.

The hosts made it 2-2 in the second half through Samir Carruthers but it was Kettering who snatched a late winner on the counter-attack through Khaellem Bailey-Nicholls.