"Bucks looking for first win at Kettering since 2009"

Match Date : October 31st, 2023 7:45 pm
Competition : Southern League Premier Central
Ground : Latimer Park
Kick Off : 19:45

The Bucks are back on the road this Tuesday, when Kevin Wilkin takes his men to Kettering Town.

After narrowly missing out on the National League North playoffs in 2021/22, the Poppies fortunes fell off significantly last season as they were relegated alongside the Bucks.

The man tasked with attempting to guide the Poppies back to Step 2 is Andy Leese, who has spent the previous six years as the manager of Enfield Town. But Leese’s rebuild didn’t get off to the best of starts, with Kettering losing their first three games of the season.

However, a good run in the FA Cup contributed to a six-game unbeaten run that helped the Poppies get back on their feet. While two wins from their last two games has helped move Town clear of the relegation zone, the Poppies rising up to 17th in the standings.

Northamptonshire club, who play at Burton Park Wanderers’ Latimer Park, saw plenty of comings and goings over the summer. Former Shrew Kelvin Langmead arrived from Banbury, while ex-Wolves man Leon Clarke joined from Hartlepool having helped Rushall to promotion during a loan spell with the Pics last season. Other new faces include keeper Billy Johnson (Braintree), young defender Owen Cochrane (on loan from Stevenage) and midfielder Dan Jarvis (Gateshead). Kettering stalwart Gary Stohrer remains as captain.

AFC Telford haven’t won at Kettering since 2009 and last beat the Poppies in March 2020 – the Bucks running out 3-1 winners in what was the final game each side played before the pandemic hit. Last season the Bucks went down 2-0 at Latimer Park, but the other four of the last five games between the sides have ended in draws, including a 1-1 stalemate at the New Bucks Head in January.

The Bucks are unbeaten in three on the road in the Southern Premier, with the last league loss away from home coming at Barwell on 26 August. And after a highly-debatable penalty deprived the Bucks of what would have been a hard-fought win at Leamington, Wilkin’s men will be aiming to secure all three points this time out.

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MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Website: www.ketteringtownfc.com

Match information: Tickets are available to purchase online or by using cash at the turnstiles. Please note that the fixture will be segregated; see our ticket guide for more information.

Ground Address: Polwell Lane, Burton Latimer, Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN15 5PS