Our last minute draw felt like a win, and if you have any nerves left, then Saturday’s game against Stamford AFC is one not to miss.

With only six games left, three away and three at home with a potential 18 points at stake, tit’s still all to play for in the chase for top spot. Only six points separate the top seven teams, and of the top five, Saturday will witness a couple of top seven clashes at the business end of the season with the first vs fifth (Harborough Town vs. Halesowen Town) and third against seventh (Stamford AFC vs. KTFC). Second place Bedford Town are away at Leiston whilst AFC Telford are at home against 17th placed Barwell and Stratford are away vs. Banbury United. There are only two points separating the top four league places.

Stamford AFC meanwhile, despite losing 0-4 at Bedford Town last Saturday, have only lost two games in their last ten (Bedford Town and 0-2 away at Leiston), drew three (2-2 at home to Lowestoft Town; 1-1 away at Royston Town and 1-1 away at St Ives) winning five (away at Bromsgrove 0-1; Biggleswade Town away 0-2; 2-0 home vs Redditch; 0-1 away at Barwell and Alvechurch at home 1-0) . Over the last six games, Stamford have won four, lost one and drew one (2-0 AFC Sudbury; 3-1 Leiston; 2-1 Redditch Utd), and three draws (1-1 Bromsgrove away; 2-2 St Ives away and 2-2 Bishop’s Stortford away) scoring eight goals conceding six.

‘The Daniel’s’, under the managership of Graham Drury, have won three of their last six home games (two losses and a draw) and reside in seventh place in the league. In the last six game league overall form guide, they are 4th in all games (13 points from a possible 18), home 13 place (having picked up 10 points from a possible 18) and 5th in the away form league (eleven points from six games).

In contrast, two places and only one point separate the two teams. KTFC, with three wins in the last six games (Alvechurch 0-1; 2-1 Alvechurch; 0-2 Leiston; ) together with one loss (2-3 St Ives), and two draws (Halesowen Town 0-0; AFC Telford 1-1), reside in third place in the league. The Poppies sit 7th in the overall form guide have attained 11 points from a possible 18 (16th place for home form (8 from 18 points) and 6th position for away matches (10 points out of 18). Devon Kelly-Evans maybe back from injury and we welcome Jamar Loza and TXJ to the squad. Don’t miss out, see you at the Vic Couzens Stadium. COYP!

HEAD 2 HEAD

Season    V        Comp           F-A     Att:    Poppies Scorers

1909-10    H        NLD1            8-1

                A        NLD1            4-4

1913-14    A        FACQ           1-3

1922-23    H        FACPL          3-0     3400  

1931-32    H        NLD1            3-0     1264   Dunkley, West, Cullip

                A        NLD1            2-4                Neal, Linnell

                A        NLD1            1-3                West

                A        FAC2Q         3-2     1605   Brown.2, Starmer

1932-33    H        NLD1            6-2     1126   Dunkley, Linnell.3, Richardson.2

                A        NLD1            2-0     500    Sparkes.2

1933-34    H        EML              5-0     720    Linnell, Rogers.4

                A        EML              3-1     700    Linnell, Richardson, Loasby

                A        FAC3Q         5-3     1100   Loasby, Richardson, Waite.2,…….?

1934-35    H        EML              5-1                Dunkley.3, Loasby, Richardson

                A        EML              4-1                Linnell, Starmer, Loasby.2

                A        FAC1Q         3-0     1378   Linnell, Goode, Orton

1935-36    H        UCL              4-1     688    Goode, Linnell, Rice.2

                A        UCL              3-1     440    Starsmore, Goode, Rice

1936-37    H        UCL              2-0     1145   Goode, Orton

                A        UCL              2-1                Orton, Cave

1937-38    H        UCL              7-1     644    Jones, Carr.6

                A        UCL              5-3                Hart, Carr.2, Potter.2

                H        FAC1Q         3-1     2678   Carr.2, Potter

1938-39    H        UCL              4-2     1332   Edwards, McCool, Robinson,…….?

                A        UCL              3-3     695    Edwards.2, Watson

1953-54    A        FAC3Q         3-3     4200   Laxton.2, Middlemiss.2

                H        FAC3QR      12-0    2435   Middlemiss.5, Inwood.3, Laing.2, Lamie, Wyldes

1957-58    H        FAC1Q         4-1     3279   Draper, Millar, Toseland.2

1960-61    H        FAC2Q         3-0     3650   Walden, Shaw, McGill

2003-04    A        FAC2Q         3-0     862    Fewings, Graham, Clarke

                A        FAT2Q         0-1     566

2023-24    H        PISLPC        1-2     598    Andrade

                A        PISLPC        2-3     818    Bennett (p), Lewthwaite

2024-25    H        PISPLC        2-0     986    Ranger.2 (1p)

POPPIES WINS: 25    GOALS FOR: 121

DANIELS WINS:     6                                       GOALS AGAINST:               49

DRAWS                  3

Played for both clubs (58)                                                  

Managed both clubs (1)

Dominic Genovese

Manager (1)

Doug Keast

Most goals in a game for the Poppies v Stamford (6)

Maurice Carr (1937-38)

Most goals in career Poppies v Stamford (10)

Maurice Carr

League debuts (8)

Kettering Town players sent off v Stamford (1)

Dan Jezeph             16:04:24 (h)

Poppies players who have scored against Kettering Town (1)

Jon Challinor (2)

STAMFORD AFC

Manager                            Graham Drury                                                  

Ground                             Zeeco Stadium

Nickname                         The Daniels                                          

Position in League           (5^th) – 60 pts from 36 games                 

Leading League scorer    (11) Jack Duffy                 

FORM LAST 5                 

Form last Overall   LWWWD      =  10 Pts

Form last away        LWWDD       =   8  Pts                

Form last home     WWDLW      =  10 Pts

The Daniels so far…..