Despite a valiant display and defeat at Spalding on Tuesday against an excellent side, the Poppies continue their away road trip this time at the Victoria Ground where Bromsgrove Sporting entertain Kettering Town this Saturday.

Bromsgrove were in action on Tuesday losing 3-0 away at Banbury which resulted in them falling to eighteenth place in the league with twenty points from seventeen games one place above the relegation zone but eight points clear of Stourbridge in nineteenth. Prior to the result earlier in the week, Bromsgrove’s recent form had been improving with a 3-3 draw at Stourbridge and two wins, 2-0 at home to Royston Town and 2-1 at the Victoria Ground against Leiston. This came after a 0-3 away defeat in the FA Trophy versus Leek Town. Residing in thirteenth place in the form table, taking seven points from a possible fifteen, The Rouslers’ home form finds them in mid table eleventh place achieving thirteen points from nine games. Bromsgrove highest scorers this season are Sanches their Portuguese forward with four and Benbow with three.

Having conceded to two set pieces on Tuesday, Liam McDonald has been working on addressing our defensive resilience as well as seeking to secure the services of a much needed striker. Form wise, Kettering are in twelfth place, securing seven points from a possible fifteen in their past five games. However, the Poppies away form is more encouraging where they have secured thirteen points from eight games. Lying in eleventh place in the league on twenty-four points, KTFC are five points adrift of play off placed Redditch in fifth having achieved two away wins (0-2 Quorn and Banbury 0-2), two losses (0-1 Needham Market; 0-2 Spalding Untied) and a draw (0-0 at home vs St Ives) in their last five league matches. Poppies were 2-1 victors in our last game against the Rouslers.

With the returning Fifield, and the prospect of further activity in the transfer market, McDonald has a full squad to select from for the game at the Victoria Ground which will be swiftly followed by another away fixture at AFC Stamford on Tuesday and then finally, a home game against Stourbridge on the following Saturday.

Of the league promotion hopefuls, leaders Harborough Town, who have only lost one game this season, are in action at in form sixth placed Worcester City, Spalding United have a tough home game against fourth placed Needham Market, Real Bedford in third entertain Quorn, and Redditch are away at St Ives.

Having shipped ten goals in their last five games Bromsgrove are vulnerable at the back but their home form illustrates their tenacity and Kettering will have to resolve their striking prowess to come away with the points this Saturday. However, with a series of home games in December, an away win at the Victoria Ground would provide a springboard as we head into the festive period.

Enjoy the game get behind the Poppies.

Season        V        Comp           F-A     Att:    Poppies Scorers

2023-24        H        PISLPC        1-1     541     Jarvis

                     A        PISLPC        2-1     774     Lewthwaite, Langmead

2024-25        H        PISLPC        1-2     1114   Hart

                     A        PISLPC        2-1     571     Ranger, Edwards (p)

POPPIES WINS:     2                            GOALS FOR:                   6

ROUSLERS WINS: 1                             GOALS AGAINST:            5

DRAWS                  1

Managers (2)

Thomas Baillie, Mike McGrath (P/M)

Played for both clubs (11)

Kyle Perry, Luke Ward, Jordan Wilson, Matthew Barnes-Homer, Mike McGrath, Joe Curtis, Mo Sebbeh, George Forsyth, Kieron Dawes, Jack Kelly, Aksum White.

League debuts (4)

Jonny Edwards        2024-25 (a) scored on debut

Josh Blunkell           2023-24 (a)

Luca Purse              2023-24 (a)

O’Shane Stewart     2023-24 (a)

BROMSGROVE SPORTING

Manager                                     Scott Adey-Linforth

Ground                                       UK Electrical Stadium

Nickname                                    The Rouslers

Position in League                     18^th – 20pts from 17 games

Top League scorer                      4 – Sanches

The Rouslers so far…..