Ramshaw pleased to see Kettering Town becoming a hard team to beat

The Poppies play their first home game of the year tomorrow (Saturday)
Kettering Town manager Paul Cox (left) and assistant-boss John Ramshaw talk things over ahead of Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw at Boston United. Pictures by Peter ShortKettering Town manager Paul Cox (left) and assistant-boss John Ramshaw talk things over ahead of Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw at Boston United. Pictures by Peter Short
Kettering Town manager Paul Cox (left) and assistant-boss John Ramshaw talk things over ahead of Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw at Boston United. Pictures by Peter Short

John Ramshaw believes Kettering Town are “back on track” as they bid to continue their solid form of late against Gateshead this weekend.

The Poppies head into their first home game of 2021 having suffered just one defeat in their last 11 matches in all competitions, although they have now drawn their last four games in the Vanarama National League North.

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A 0-0 home draw with AFC Telford United on December 12 was followed by a 3-3 stalemate at Alfreton Town on December 28 with those games being sandwiched between back-to-back FA Trophy victories over Nuneaton Borough and Ashton United.

Callum Powell has signed a contract at Kettering Town after an impressive start to life at Latimer ParkCallum Powell has signed a contract at Kettering Town after an impressive start to life at Latimer Park
Callum Powell has signed a contract at Kettering Town after an impressive start to life at Latimer Park

The Poppies opened up the new year with tough-looking away games at Brackley Town and Boston United.

They led at Brackley last Saturday thanks to a Callum Powell penalty, only to be pegged back late on by a Shane Byrne spot-kick.

And Kettering were 2-0 up at much-fancied Boston on Tuesday night thanks to quickfire first-half goals from Connor Kennedy and Decarrey Sheriff, only to surrender that advantage in the second half with Jordan Burrow and Luke Shiels on target to earn the hosts a point in a 2-2 draw.

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While manager Paul Cox and assistant-boss Ramshaw would have preferred more wins than draws in the recent run, the latter is pleased to see that the Poppies have become a bit harder to beat in the last couple of months.

“I think we are becoming a hard team to beat,” Ramshaw said.

“I thought we looked like that in pre-season and then we lost our way a little bit.

“But we feel like we are back on track and we said in the dressing-room after the game on Tuesday that we have had the opportunities to turn those draws into wins and if we had done then we would be sitting very comfortably in the league.”

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A return to home soil is now on the cards as the Poppies take on a Gateshead side who reached the semi-finals of the play-offs last season.

And Ramshaw is now keen to see Kettering’s encouraging performances resulting in them moving up the table.

“We’re looking forward to getting back to Latimer Park,” the assistant-manager added.

“It will be a difficult game against Gateshead who are another big club with a good infrastructure and they reached the play-offs last season.

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“Hopefully we can get the points on the board and start moving up the table because I think our performances, certainly over the last couple of months, have warranted that.”

The Poppies, meanwhile, confirmed this week that Powell has signed a contract with the club.

The forward has been in fine form since joining the club in November and has scored six goals in nine appearances.

In a statement, the Poppies said: “The club is delighted to announce the Callum Powell has signed a contract with the Poppies, which should safeguard his future with Kettering.

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“Callum has been in excellent form since he joined the club, scoring six goals in nine games. Here’s to the future Callum.”

That news came during a busy week on the transfer front for the Poppies as they signed Matlock Town club captain and striker Liam Hughes on loan until February ahead of Tuesday draw at Boston.

Kettering have also confirmed that Jay Williams has joined Harrogate Town after a seven-day approach while young fringe player Jack Turner has joined Loughborough Dynamo and Lewis Wilson has also left the club.