Football is often a cruel game as we witnessed at the Zeeco Stadium last Saturday with the injury time equaliser. However, we have five cup finals left until the end of the league campaign and it’s still all to play for as the top five compete for promotion.

Whilst the match against Stamford AFC was literally a game of two halves, the Poppies deserved the three points and with the final five matches left, two away and three at home with a potential 15 points at stake, the home fixture against Hitchin takes on an importance all of its own given the momentum we need to finish as high as possible to consolidate a play off place or secure promotion. Of the top five, Saturday will witness the first vs fifth clash with Bedford vs Harborough. Halesowen are away to St Ives, Stratford are at away against Redditch United and AFC Telford are at home to Spalding United. The gap between the top five teams is increasing as it currently stands at eight points as Stratford, Stamford and Spalding United are within two points of a play off place.

Hitchin Town meanwhile, are on a dismal run with having not won a league game in their last seven matches with only three draws (2-2 at home to Royston; away at Stratford 1-1; and 1-1 at home against St Ives) and four defeats (3-2 away at Spalding; 1-2 at home Halesowen; 3-2 away to Bishop’s Stortford; 2-1 away to Lowestoft Town). Over the last six games, Hitchin have scored nine goals conceding twelve.

‘The Canaries’, under the managership of Michael Jones, are in deep relegation trouble residing in twenty first place in the league. In the last six game league overall form guide, they are 21st in all games (3 points from a possible 18), home ninth place (having picked up 11 points from a possible 18) and 21st in the away form league (one point from six games).

In contrast, seventeen places and thirty three points separate the two teams. KTFC, with two wins in the last six games (Alvechurch 0-1; 2-1 Alvechurch) together with one loss (2-3 St Ives), and three draws (Stamford AFC 1-1; AFC Telford 1-1 and Lowestoft Town 0-0), reside in fourth place in the league. The Poppies sit 9th in the overall form guide have attained 9 points from a possible 18 (15th place for home form (8 from 18 points) and 3rd position for away matches (11 points out of 18). On paper, it should be a Poppies win. However, given our relatively poor home form, and the free scoring nature of Hitchin in their three games, let’s hope it’s three points for KTFC on Saturday at Latimer Park. COYP!

                                                                  HITCHIN TOWN

Season        V        Comp           F-A     Att:    Poppies Scorers

1905-06        H        FAC2Q         2-2                Garton.2

                     A        FAC2QR       4-0                King.3, Dix

1906-07        A        FAC2Q         0-5

1977-78        A        FAC4Q         2-2     1657   Clayton, Kellock

                     H        FAC4QR       2-1     2665   Dixey, Phipps

2003-04        H        RPL              1-1     996    Paschalis

                     A        RPL              1-1     428    McKenzie

2012-13        H        ESP              3-1     220    Eze, Hicks, Akinshade

                     A        ESP              4-3     428    Wilson.3, Griffiths (p)

2015-16        H        ESP              1-1     673    Weir-Daley

                     A        ESP              1-2     379    Ogbonna

2016-17        H        ESP              0-0     506

                     A        ESP              0-0     451

2017-18        H        ESP              4-1     611    O’Connor.4

                     A        ESP              0-0     469

2018-19        H        ESLSPC       5-0     650    Meikle, Richens, Holman, Solkhon.2 (ps)

                     A        ESLSPC       1-0     470    Hoenes

2023-24        H        PISLPC         0-4     631

                     A        PISLPC         1-0     725    Jarvis

                     A        FAC3Q         1-0     832    Lewthwaite

2024-25        A        PISLPC         3-0     598    Jarvis.2, Miller

POPPIES WINS: 10   GOALS FOR: 35

CANARIES WINS:  3                                        GOALS AGAINST:              23

DRAWS:                 8

Most goals in a game for the Poppies v Hitchin Town (4)

Aaron O’Connor (2017-18)

Most career goals Poppies v Hitchin Town (4)

Aaron O’Connor

Played for both clubs (22)                                                  

Kettering Town players sent off v Hitchin Town (1)

Rene Howe                       2016-17 (h)

Hitchin Town players sent off v Kettering Town (1)

Ben Walster                       2016-17 (h)

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

Remy Ellis

HITCHIN TOWN

Manager                           Michael Jones                                                            

Ground                             Top Field                                                                   

Nickname                         The Canaries          

Position in League           (21^st)   33pts from 37 games                  

Leading League scorer    (7) Rio Deall           

FORM LAST 5                 

Form last Overall                        DLLLD          2Pts

Form last away                           LLDLL          1Pt              

Form last home                            DLDWW       6pt

The Canaries so far…..