It is goals that count and with a crazy first seven minutes at the Eyrie, Kettering Town now focus on the games in hand to propel us towards promotion or a play off place. A good performance against Bedford Town belied our frailty in both boxes and, with a great turnout from the Poppies faithful, we had hoped to be in a better place before entertaining our next visitors to Latimer Park, Halesowen Town. However, with league leaders Bedford winning 3-1, Stratford drawing 1-1 at away to Bishop’s Stortford and AFC Telford winning at home against Leiston 3-1, there is only six points separating the top five.

Halesowen meanwhile, come into this game winning three of their last five games (Stourbridge 3-1; Bishop’s Stortford 4-0; Royston Town 2-1) whilst securing a draw (Alvechurch 2-2) and losing away at Spalding United (0-2) scoring ten goals conceding six.

‘The Yeltz’, under the managership of Russell Penn, lie 6th in the last six game league overall form guide, 7th in the home (having picked up 13 points from a possible 18) and 16th in the away form league. (4 points out of a possible 18). However, Poppies have a score to settle as they lost 1-2 in this seasons reverse fixture at The Grove, with Halesowen scoring twice in the first half with Jarvis getting one back on sixty-nine minutes.

In contrast, whilst only two places separate the two teams who have the same points total 53, KTFC, with three wins in the last five games (1-3 Stourbridge; 3-0 Barwell; 0-1 Sudbury) together with two losses (away at Banbury 1-0 and Bedford 3-1), have climbed to third in the league, are of 8th in the overall form guide have attaining 9 points from a possible 18 (8th place for home form 13 out of a possible 18) and 11th position for away matches 6 points out of 18). With six points separating first and third place, he Poppies have four games in hand on Bedford. However, the Halesowen game represents one of those games in hand and is a must win to keep the pressure on AFC Telford and Bedford at the top. Get Behind the Team. COYP!

                                                   HALESOWEN TOWN

Season        V        Comp           F-A     Att:   Poppies Scorers

1946-47        H        BDL              0-1     3014

                     A        BDL              2-5                Burt, Burgess

1947-48        H        BDL              4-2     4046   Henley.3, Woolhead

                     A        BDL              4-1                Lawrence, Strathie, Henley, Own goal

1948-49        H        BDL              2-0                Mitchell.2

                     A        BDL              0-4

1949-50        H        BDL              2-3     1172   Puplett, Woolhead

                     A        BDL              2-3     1000   Puplett, Woolhead

2018-19        H        ESLSPC       2-0     628    Kelly, Solkhon

                     A        ESLSPC       1-0     938    Hoenes

2023-24        H        PISLPC        2-2     905    Mellors-Blair, Jarvis

                     A        PISLPC        2-1     1051   Lewthwaite, Bennett

2024-25        A        PISLPC        1-2     1216   Jarvis

POPPIES WINS:     6  GOALS FOR:  24

YELTZ WINS:         6                                        GOALS AGAINST:              24

DRAWS                  1

Played for both clubs (46)                                                  

Goalkeepers

Zema Abbey, Mick Martin, Mark Osborn, Nick Bussey, Darren Caskey, Dean Brennan, Jermaine Palmer, Mark Danks, Matt Lewis, Mick Shearer, Nathan Smith, Stephan Morley, Chris Taylor, Leroy May, Serge Makofo, Jean Black, Daryl Taylor, Gary Hateley, Andy Quy, Kevin Spencer, Liam McDonald, Bryan Small, Nathan Peprah, Daniel Thompson, David Perpetuni, Andy Hall, Dwayne Lee, Nicky Eaden, Patrick Peters, Dan Thompson, Lee Fowler, Henry Eze, Iyseden Christie, Nicholas Wright, Jack Kelly, Exodus Geohaghon, Spencer Weir-Daley, Matthew Barnes-Homer, Mike McGrath, Khaellem Bailey-Nicholls, Calum Flannagan, Liam Daly, Cameron Gregory, Kemy Agustien, George Forsyth, Adi Yussuf.

HALESOWEN TOWN

Manager                           Russ Penn

Ground                             The Grove

Position in League           (5^th) 53pts from 31 games

Leading League scorer    (20) Kieren Donnelly

Form (overall Last 5)       WDLWL       7pts

Form last 5 away             LLDLL           1pt     

Form last 5 home              WLWWW     12pts

THE YELTZ SO FAR…