"Bucks aiming to close the gap on the Poppies"

Match Date : January 17th, 2023 7:45 pm
Competition : National League North
Ground : New Bucks Head
Kick Off : 19:45

AFC Telford welcome Kettering Town to the New Bucks Head this Tuesday.

After narrowly missing out on the playoffs last season, the Northamptonshire club decided to rip things up and start again over the summer. The Poppies finished 8th, just two points behind 7th-placed Boston United, but fundamental differences between manager and club led to the departure of boss Ian Culverhouse in May – Culverhouse had himself only taken the reins in January following Paul Cox’s departure to Boston.

The new man in charge is former Corby and Grantham boss Lee Glover, who arrives with the stated aim of building a young and dynamic team. And Glover was certainly busy over summer, overseeing an almost complete overhaul of the Kettering squad.

Keeper Rhys Davies, left back Alex Brown and attacker Jordon Crawford have all left to link up with former boss Cox at Boston. Two other key players in centre half and former Buck Connor Johnson and tenacious midfielder Connor Kennedy joined for Peterborough Sports, with other departures include Connor Barrett (AFC Fylde) and Callum Stead (Brackley Town),

Understandably, then, a raft of new faces have been brought in, including former Buck Keaton Ward and full back Ellis Myles, who Kevin Wilkin knows well from his time at Brackley Town. However, the Poppies’ early season star, Peterborough United loanee Andrew Oluwabori, has now linked up with Yeovil Town.

The Poppies registered one win, one defeat and three draws in their last five, and they currently sit in 21st spot. Kettering won 2-0 when the sides met earlier in the season, but AFC Telford tend to do well against the Poppies on home soil, winning two and drawing one of the last three encounters at the New Bucks Head.

The Bucks are now unbeaten in four and rank 9th in the form table over the last six games. And if Kevin Wilkin’s men can pick up another win on Tuesday, the Bucks will close the gap to the Poppies to just six points.

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MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Tickets for Tuesday’s fixture will remain on sale up until kick-off and are available for purchase online here.