For a Poppies fan, the run in has been a roller-coaster of emotions from the 2-2 comeback against Hitchin, the last gasp equaliser at home to AFC Telford and the 2-3 defeat against St Ives, Our Jekyll and Hyde season continues on Saturday with an away visit to the RDA Stadium at Bishop’s Stortford.

Following a four goal thriller at Latimer Park, KTFC, having drawn four of their last five games, are looking for three points on the road with only four games left this campaign, two away and two at home with a potential 12 points at stake. Saturday will witness league leaders Bedford Town away to Lowestoft Town, AFC Telford at Banbury, Stamford AFC play Stratford at home whilst Halesowen are at home to Barwell. Six points separating the top five and three points between the top four.

‘The Bishops’, under the managership of Steve Castle, are experiencing a patchy period of form, LWLDW having beaten both Biggleswade 2-3 and Hitchin 3-2 and reside in fifteenth place in the league four points from the relegation zone. In the last six game league overall form guide, they are 15th in all games (7 points from a possible 18), home eighth place (having picked up 11 points from a possible 18) and 15th in the away form league (five points from six games).

In contrast, eleven places and twenty points separate the two teams. KTFC, with one win in the last six games (Alvechurch 0-1) together with one loss (2-3 St Ives), and four draws (Lowestoft Town 0-0; AFC Telford 1-1; Stamford AFC 1-1 and Hitchin 2-2), reside in fourth place in the league. The Poppies sit 14th in the overall form guide have attained 11 points from a possible 18 (13th place for home form (9 from 18 points) and first position for away matches (11 points out of 18). Assume there will be changes in the Poppies line up for the game and with Bishop’s Stortford having a good home record and a robust physical approach to game management its another cup final. COYP!

     BISHOP’S STORTFORD

Season        V        Comp           F-A     Att:    Poppies Scorers

2003-04        H        RPL              3-2     821     Difante.3

                     A        RPL              1-4     561     Fewings

2008-09        H        SS2              4-2     450     Marna, Seddon.2, Potter

2017-18        H        ESP              6-0     558     Stevens.2, O’Connor.2, Solkhon (p), Pendley

                     A        ESP              2-0     355     O’Connor, Hoenes

2024-25        H        PISLPC        2-1     964     Edwards,2 (1p)

POPPIES WINS:     5   GOALS FOR:                     18

BISHOPS WINS:     1                                        GOALS AGAINST:              9

DRAWS                  0

Most goals in a game for the Poppies v Bishop’s Stortford (3)

Chris Difante (2003-04)

Most goals in career Poppies v Bishop’s Stortford (3)

Chris Difante, Aaron O’Connor.

Played for both clubs (13)

Goalkeepers

Al James Hannigan, Rob Gould, Roy Essandoh, Jordan Fowler, Ellis Remy, Chris Arthur, Aldi Haxhia, Andrew Burns, Lewis Wilson, Ryan Charles, Michael Richens, Aaron Powell (loan), Jonny Edwards.

League debuts (1)

Lee Howey              03:01:04 (a)

Club debuts (1)

Joe Power               21:10:08 (h)  League Cup

Bishop’s Stortford players sent off v Kettering Town (2)

Marvel Ekpiteta       2017-18 (h)

Rashawn Scott        2024-25 (h)

Manager                           Steve Castle                                                    

Ground                             RDA Stadium                                                             

Nickname                         The Bishops

Position in League           15^th (47 pts from 38 games)                  

Leading League scorer    9 – Jack Roberts (now at Spalding Utd)

                                         8 –  Bradley Russell

FORM LAST 5                 

Form last Overall             LWLDW       7pts

Form last away                  LWDLD         5pts             

Form last home                LWDWD       8pts

The Bishops so far…..