Consistency remains the main aim for Kettering Town in most unique of seasons

Action from Kettering Town's 1-0 defeat to Southport last week. Picture by Peter Short

The Poppies, like many other clubs, have endured a stop-start campaign so far

Paul Cox will continue to drive home the message of consistency to his Kettering Town players as they look to get into a groove in the Vanarama National League North.

The Poppies, like a number of other clubs in their own division and across the country, had to have an enforced break in the early stages of the season due to an outbreak of Covid-19 within the squad.

Since their return, Kettering have beaten Bradford Park Avenue 3-1 but slipped to a 3-2 loss at table-topping AFC Fylde before being edged out 1-0 by another early high-flyer in the form of Southport last Tuesday night.

The Poppies are back at Latimer Park on Saturday when they entertain Curzon Ashton.

And Cox believes it will be sometime before the National League North and football, in general, settles down during what looks set to continue to be a unique season.

“There have been some strange results,” the Kettering manager said.

“You look at our win against Bradford Park Avenue and then they have gone and put two or three competitive results together and find themselves in a great position.

“The league hasn’t settled yet, I am not sure it ever will with everything that is going on.

“Clubs are closing down and then starting back up and then playing competitive matches Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday and, from what I am hearing, that’s creating a scenario of an overload of injuries.

“But you look at the country in general and the FA Cup over last weekend with how many clubs at our level and below have knocked big Football League clubs out and done it superbly so there seems to be an erraticness and a lack of consistency across football at the minute.

“That’s something I have been aware of and it’s something we have talked about with our group in terms of getting that consistency in our game and our performances.”

As far as injuries within the Poppies squad are concerned, Cox admitted there have been “a few aches and strains” but he is hopeful of having a near full-strength squad to choose from this weekend.

“We have had a few knocks,” he added.

“We are like everyone else there are a few aches and strains about. It’s just a case now of how people recover in training this week.

“Having last Saturday off has probably helped us with a couple of more severe injuries but we will have a head count and hopefully get a couple back who have had minor knocks and be close to full-strength for the weekend.”

Kettering, meanwhile, have confirmed they will travel to Hereford for a rearranged league game on Saturday, November 28.

The Poppies had been due to play at Chorley on that date but that game will now have to be rescheduled due to their continued involvement in the FA Cup.