An edgy first half performance gave way to a strong finish to the game at the MEL Group Stadium on Saturday against today’s St Patrick’s Day opponents AFC Sudbury.

The punishing wave of games as part of the run-in continues with the advent of the second of the double header clash against the Suffolk club. The Suds played very well in the first half against the Poppies on Saturday and were unlucky not to come away with a first half lead. However, despite only having four available players on the bench, the introduction of the subs provided both the impetus and basis to build on KTFC’s superb second half performance to secure the impressive 1-4 win.

This defeat, with no wins in their last thirteen games and only one draw (0-0 at Worcester City) in twelve with eleven defeats highlights their relegation dogfight. AFC Sudbury, whose Head Coach Tommy Austin has left the club by mutual consent after Saturday’s defeat and will now be managed by Assistant Coach Jamie Thomson, are now twelve places below KTFC in twenty-second place second from bottom, with twenty-nine points separating the teams with the former having played two games more. In the form league, they reside in twenty-first place with a solitary one point from their previous five games. However, the Suds are the bottom of the league in the comparative away standings having achieved nine points from sixteen games.  

For the Poppies, the arrival of the towering presence of Carl Mensah necessitated a tactical shift moving Forsyth into midfield which contributed to Saturday’s victory. With just three defeats in the last fourteen matches, credit has to go to the players but also to Liam McDonald in being able to craft a wining run against the context of a chameleon like squad and the frequency of games.  

KTFC have three wins (1-4 vs AFC Sudbury; 1-0 at home to Bromsgrove; 2-0 at home against Stratford Town) one draw (1-1 Stourbridge) and a single loss (0-2 Alvechurch) over their past five matches.

Kettering remain sixth place in the league’s form table taking ten points from a possible fifteen in our past five matches but are twelfth in the overall home table securing twenty-four points from fourteen games. The Poppies now reside in ninth place with fifty-one points, six points off the playoff places with two games in hand on current fifth placed Needham Market.   

The league midweek matches see a flurry of games between teams with a game in hand of their rivals. Second placed Harborough Town travel to Bromsgrove Sporting, playoff chasing Banbury United are at Halesowen Town, third placed Real Bedford entertain Worcester and Alvechurch host a much-improved AFC Stamford.

AFC Sudbury have never beaten Kettering. However, both sides understand each others’ capabilities and like the first half in Suffolk, this could be a close encounter. With all the main playoff hopefuls outside the top five playing tonight, the need for another cup final performance from the Poppies is paramount especially with only ten games remaining. So, let’s get behind Liam and the team to secure three points.

Enjoy the game.

AFC SUDBURY

Season        V        Comp           F-A     Att:    Poppies Scorers

2023-24        H        PISLPC        2-0     647     Jarvis, Yussuf

A        PISLPC        1-0     445     Reindorf

2024-25        H        PISLPC        2-1      1439  Johnson, Miller

                     A        PISLPC        1-0     383     Pennant

A        PISLPC        1-4     645     Panter x 2,Isaacson, Williams

POPPIES WINS                 5                            GOALS FOR                      10

THE SUDS WINS              0                             GOALS AGAINST               2

DRAWS                            0

Players who have played for both clubs (9)

Glen Beech*, Sam Banya*, Trevor Slack*, Trevor Quow*, Neil Pope*, Gary Setchell, Bradley Thomas, Paul Walker, Finlay Corrigan, Ben Isaacson.

*Sudbury Town.

League debuts (1)

Alex Gudger            01:02:25 (a)

AFC SUDBURY

Manager                           Tommy Austin

Ground                             The Elite Travel Stadium

Nickname                         The Suds

Position in League           22^nd – 22pts from 34 games

FORM
POPPIES                WDWWW     13pts
THE SUDS              LLDLL           1pt

THE SUDS SO FAR……