In August we would taken the playoff’s and, with Bedford Town clinching the single automatic promotion place last Saturday, we face an exciting but nail biting finale to the season. With two cup finals left, we welcome our near neighbours Harborough Town to Latimer Park for a one off match which promises to be a cracker.
Despite the two clubs only being seventeen miles apart and, whilst this game will be only the third competitive clash between the two sides, there are significant links between the two clubs. Many of the Harborough squad, such as Stephens, Connor Kennedy, Gary Mulligan, Liam Dolman (1 game), Jordon Crawford, Paul Malone, have all played for the Poppies, while Luca Miller played on loan last season at the Bees winning promotion with them managed by the former KTFC Assistant Manager, Mitch Austin.
Harborough drew 1-1 at LP earlier in the season with a controversial penalty (it was outside the area) on 89 minutes and former Poppy (their leading scorer) Ben Stephens scored both goals in the 2-1 win over the Poppies on New Year’s Day at Harborough.
Harborough won 3 of their last 4 games, all against relegation threaten clubs, with 1-0 wins over Barwell and Redditch, with the Leicestershire side going down on goal difference and The Bees have only lost one in their last 14 matches.
The Poppies meanwhile, who secured a point at home to Banbury United on Saturday, have only lost two games in their last fourteen games since losing to Bedford 1-3 back in February.
In terms of recent form over the past six games, Kettering are fourth in the league with 12 points from a possible 18 with Harborough in sixth with 11 from a potential 18; The Bee’s run in away record is impressive being second place the the league performance tables taking 14 points whereas the Poppies lie in 11th place for their home record with 9 points from a possible 18.
If we look for past playoff performances as an indicator of future outcomes, the Poppies record is patchy having won two of the previous seven the club has been involved in since 2004_5 and statistically speaking, teams who finish second in the league do not fair well in playoffs, unlike those who end up in fifth place.
However, prior form and the outcome of previous matches mean nothing tonight. Its a one off winner takes all encounter.
Congratulations to Lav’s and team who against the odds have secured second place and had a fantastic FA Cup run. Let’s finish the season with a flourish starting tonight with a win and let’s get behind the Poppies.
HARBOROUGH TOWN
Season V Comp F-A Att: Poppies Scorers
2024-25 H PISLPC 1-1 1596 Johnson
A PISLPC 1-2 1500 Fifield
Played for both clubs (22)
Chris Carruthers, Taras Petranyuk, Kamran Glen, Jamie McAlindon, Robbie Maddox, Solomon Akinshade, Pat Noubissie, Callum Milne, Michael Shamalo, Jordon Crawford, Paul Malone, Joel Carta, Rhys Hoenes, Ethan Johnson, Gary Mulligan, Brett Solkhon, Connor Kennedy, Silvano Obeng, Luca Miller (loan), Sidik Atcha, Ben Stephens, Liam Dolman.
Managers (1)
Mitch Austin
League debuts against Harborough Town (1)
Terell Pennant 01:01:25 (a)
THE BEES
Manager Mitch Austin
Ground Harborough Town Community Stadium
Nickname The Bees
Position in League 5th, 71 pts from 42 games
Leading league scorer 20 – Ben Stephens
Form last 5 games WWWLD 10pts
Away WWDDW 11pts
Home WLDWW 10pts
POPPIES IN THE PLAY – OFFS
Season V Comp Opponents F-A Att: Poppies Scorers
2004-05 A NCNSF Droylsden 2-1 1181 Burgess, Danks
H NCNF Altrincham 2-3 2285 Burgess, Paterson
2006-07 A NCNSF1 Farsley Celtic 1-1 1651 Solkhon
H NCNSF2 Farsley Celtic 0-0* 2033
2013-14 H CLD1CSF Daventry Town 1-0 1446 Eze
H CLD1CF Slough Town 2-3 2331 Logan, Eze
2017-18 A ESPSF Slough Town 1-3 1246 O’Connor
*Lost 2-4 on penalties.
Highest home attendance 2331 v Slough Town (2013-14)
Highest away attendance 1651 v Farsley Celtic (2006-07)
Lowest home attendance 1446 v Daventry Town (2013-14)
Lowest away attendance 1186 v Droylsden (2004-05)
Most goals in the play-offs (2)
Ollie Burgess (2004-05), Henry Eze (2013-14)
Own goals (1)
Martin Matthews 07:05:05 (h) v Altrincham
Managers in the play-offs (5)
Kevin Wilson, Graham Westley, Dean Thomas, Marcus Law, Richard Lavery.
