We are getting into the business end of the Poppies league campaign and Friday’s clash is a good indicator of the progress of KTFC and their future position come April. With only 14 games left, 7 away and 7 at home and a potential 42 points at stake, it would seem like the game against Bedford would not count for much in the overall title race. However, following the Kettering Town’s excellent 1-3 win against an in form Stourbridge on Saturday, it was not just the three points but the performance which was most pleasing. A very strong bench and the return of team regulars contributed to a resolute defensive display and and an attach which could have made more of the many chances created. However, with AFC Telford winning 2-1 at home against Redditch, Stratford losing 1-2 away to Barwell, Leiston entering the play off places after a home win vs Spalding 2-1 and 10 men Halesowen securing a 2-2 draw at home vs Alvechurch, there is only five points separating the top five. It’s all set up for a great game at The Eyrie on Friday.

Bedford meanwhile, come into this game winning three of their last four games (Barwell 0-1; Bromsgrove 3-0; Sudbury 1-2; ) scoring six goals conceding only one goal. However, the league leaders form this year does illustrate a mixed record having lost to AFC Telford twice (2-3;6-2), Spalding at home (1-5) and away at Royston 0-1) drawing at Banbury 2-2).

‘The Eagles’, under the managership of Lee Bircham, lie 7th in the last six game league overall form guide, 11th in the home (having picked up ten points from a possible 18) and 2nd in the away form league. However, there is little between the teams as the 2-2 draw in this seasons reverse fixture at Latimer Park showed, with Bedford scoring in the 90th minute after Noel-Williams and later Thanoj had give the Poppies the lead.

In contrast, whilst only two places and three points separate the two teams, KTFC, with three wins in the last four games (1-3 Stourbridge; 3-0 Barwell; 0-1 Sudbury) together with a loss away at Banbury 1-0, have climbed to third in the league, reached the dizzy heights of 9th in the overall form guide have attaining 9 points from a possible 18 (6th place for home form and 10th position for away matches 7 points out of 18). Remarkably, the Poppies have four games in hand on Bedford. However, its all to play for, and whilst it may not decide the title, it will go a long way to indicating who has the best chance of lifting the trophy. Get Behind the Team. COYP!

BEDFORD TOWN (Recent games)

Season        V        Comp           F-A     Att:    Poppies Scorers

2012-13        H        ESP++          3-0     456    Logan, Gyasi, Ford

                     A        ESP              1-1     538    Beckles

2014-15        H        ESLD1C       2-0     974    Lee, Sandy

                     A        ESLD1C       4-0     337    Ogbonna.2, Clifton.2

2017-18        A        BFBCC1       4-2     152    Stohrer, Bateman, Hoenes, Maagbe

2024-25        H        PISLPC        2-2     2093   Noel-Williams, Thanoj

++ Played at Steel Park, Corby.

Since 1908

POPPIES WINS:     57  GOALS FOR:   266

EAGLES WINS:      37                                      GOALS AGAINST:              179

DRAWS                  24

Played for both clubs (58)                                       

Goalkeepers

George Cleary, John Hawksby, Sam Banya, David Broomes, Bob Curtis, Wayne Dyer, Graham Felton, Micky Nuttell, Mark Paul, Nicky Platnauer, Carl Adams, Steve Wilson, Soner Zamrutel, Lee Howarth, Darren Lynch, Daniel French, Liam Foulds. Neil Lazarus, Drew Roberts, Paul Fewings, Parys Okai, Rene Howe, Aaron Cavill, Scott Cross, James Gould, Max York, Daniel Crowie, Claude Seanla, Chris Pitharas, Joel Gyasi, Steve Kinniburgh, Ashley Fuller, Stuart Wall, Sam Akinde, Nick Bennion, Ross Oulton, Jonathan Bukasa, Joe Curtis, Tommy Hull, Ollie Thorne, Enol Ordonez, Ben Farrell, Nathan Abbey, Ben Ford, James Hall, Tre Mitford, Jake Newman, Tyrone Lewthwaite, Kornell McDonald, Adam Cunnington, Josh Flanagan, Ben Baker, Lewis Elsom, James Clifton, Kieron Dawes, Bruno Andrade, Huw Dawson, Harlain Mbayo.

Managers (6)

Roger Ashby, Lee Howarth, Danny Nicholls, Nathan Abbey, Gary Setchell.

Managers of both clubs (2)

Kevin Wilson & Nicky Platnauer

League debuts (7)

Stan Bazeley           11:04:50 (h)

George Nimmo      13:03:54 (a)  GK

Bill Salmon              11:04:64 (h)

Jimmy Johnson       04:11:67 (h)  Scored on debut

Alan Althorpe          26:12:70 (a)

Simon Fuller            31:03:76 (h)

Karam Glen             02:01:13 (h)

Club debuts (2)

Justin Greatorex    03:10:17 (a) GK – League Cup

Samson Maagbe     03:10:17 (a) Scored on debut – League Cup

BEDFORD TOWN

Manager                           Lee Bircham

Ground                             The New Eyrie

Position in league            (1^st) 56pts from 32 games

Leading League scorer    19 –  Leon Lobjoit

Form (Last 5 games)

Overall                              WWLWL       9pts

Home                                WDLLW       7pts

Away                                 WLWLW       9pts

The Eagles so far..