Its’s a punishing August schedule for the Poppies with five games and, the prospect of a six pointer at Latimer Park on Bank Holiday Monday vs Harborough Town, as we continue our Southern League Premier Central campaign at home vs Barwell on Saturday.

KTFC have started the season in fine form with a 3-4 last gasp away win at Royston Town and a convincing 3-0 home win against Leiston, which positions us second in the table, a single goal behind the league leaders Bishop Stortford.     

In contrast, Barwell who reside in tenth place, visit Latimer Park on the back of an opening 3-2 final minute penalty win at home to St Ives and a 3-1 defeat away at fifth placed Halesowen.

The previous form book has both sides at evens in recent matches, with the Poppies winning both recent home fixtures, 2-1 and 3-0 respectively.

Barwell have been very active in the preseason transfer market with new players Ty Wilson, Charlie Dowd, Sidik Atcha and their retained staff including ex Poppies Lathaniel Rowe-Turner to name but a few.

The Poppies should welcome Leo Lobjoit to the starting eleven with Callum Powell, Is Fatadjo and Paul White still in the treatment room.  

If you follow the bookings predictions, it has been an unlikely start to the league with potential elect Champions Harborough Town thumping Needham Market 4-0 and drawing against Spalding 1-1, the latter now in 15^th place following their 2-1 loss away to Kettering’s following opponents Real Bedford and with Stratford firmly anchored to the bottom rung of the table following two defeats. However, its early days.

Momentum is all in these initial games and this weekends clash promises goals as Barwell are dangerous up front as well as having the capability to concede away from home and with our own buccaneering play in the first games, it is not envisaged to be a 0-0 draw on Saturday.  

Enjoy the game.

COYP!   

HEAD 2 HEAD

Season        V        Comp           F-A     Att:    Poppies Scorers

2012-13        H        ESP*            1-2     198     Hicks (p)

                     A        ESP              2-1     208     Wilson.2

2018-19        H        ESLSPC       0-1     1039

                     A        ESLSPC       1-0     454     Kelly

                     H        CSSCC3+     1-1     111     Holman

2022-23        A        FAC2Q         4-1     402     Gascoigne, Sheriff.3 (1p)

2023-24        H        PISLPC        2-1     857     Yussuf.2

                     A        PISLPC        2-3     428     White, Lewthwaite

2024-25        H        PISLPC        3-0     928     Ranger, Pennant, York

                     A        PISLPC        1-2     415     Edwards (p)

* Played at Corby Town

+ Poppies won 4-3 on penalties.

POPPIES WINS:     5                                   GOALS FOR:                      17

BARWELL WINS:    4                                    GOALS AGAINST:              12

DRAWS                  1+

Most goals in a game for the Poppies v Barwell (3)

Decarrey Sheriff (2022-23)

Played for both clubs (36)                                                  

Martin Roderick, Jamie Towers, Liam McDonald, Nick Green, Adam Cunnington, Denham Hinds, Iyseden Christie, Justin Marsden, Michael Harding, Craig Hill (GK), Ben Baker, Jonathan Thorpe, Declan Towers, Spencer Weir-Daley, Liam Canavan, Jahvan Davidson-Miller, Henry Eze, Craig Stanley, Kyle Perry, Joel Carta, Ben Stephens, Herve Pepe-N’Goma, Brad Gascoigne, Janos Bodnar, Josh Flanagan, Exodus Geohaghon, Dan Holman, Ethan Hill, Kobe Chong, Lathaniel Rowe-Turner, Lamine Sherif, Kane Richards, Tyree Wilson, Lindon Meikle, Sidik Atcha, Kornell McDonald.

Managed both clubs (1)

Marcus Law

Managers (1)

Ian King

Assistant manager both clubs (2)

Paul O’Brien, Richard Lavery.

League debuts (2)

Jahvan Davidson-Miller      2018-19 (a)

Joe Massaro                     2018-19 (h)

Club debuts (1)

Bradley Kauzeni                2018-19 (h) (League Cup)

Kettering Town players sent off v Barwell (1)

Lindon Meikle                    2018-19 (a)

Barwell players sent off v Kettering Town (1)

Eddie Nisevic                     2018-19 (a)

Poppies players who have scored for Barwell against Kettering Town (1)

Dan Holman (2023-24)

Canaries players who have scored against Barwell for Kettering Town (1)

Dan Holman (2018-18)

BARWELL

Manager                           Jimmy Ginnelly

Ground                             Crown Skip Hire Stadium (Kirby Road Sports Ground)

Nickname                         The Canaries

League position               10^th – 3pts from 2 games

The Canaries so far……

Ex-Poppies at Barwell – Lathaniel Rowe-Turner, Lindon Meikle, Kane Richards, Sidik Atcha, Kornell McDonald, Tyree Wilson.

Also in their squad is former Poppies trialist Sonny Singh shown below: