After the exhilaration of last Saturday’s 5-0 victory at Latimer Park, KTFC fans turn their attention to our next game at The Grove where Halesowen Town entertain the Poppies on Saturday kick off 15:00.

The Yeltz, who were involved in a thrilling 4-4 draw in their last game against Bishop’s Stortford where they came back from a 3-0 deficit to score three goals in eight minutes, are unbeaten in their past five matches and have only lost twice in the last ten games. Halesowen have secured three draws (4-4 at home to Bishop’s Stortford; away at Stratford where the match was abandoned; 2-2 at home against high flying league leaders Spalding), and two wins 1-3 Stourbridge and 2-0 at home against Alvechurch). These results see Halesowen reside in seventh place in the league amassing thirty-one points from nineteen games leaving them only three points off the play-off places. In terms of the form table, The Yeltz lie eighth with eight points from four games. However, Halesowen’s home form is excellent with twenty-two points achieved from ten games leaving them third in the home form table enabled in part by Jason Cowley, their prolific goal scorer, with fourteen to his name this season.

Meanwhile Kettering Town are back. The match against Stourbridge had it all, with all three strikers on the scoresheet, a marvellous debut from Man of The Match Eddie Panter, a world class save in the dying minutes from Alexander, a clean sheet, five goals, five different goal scorers and three precious points. Nevertheless, Saturday represents a tough challenge, as whilst the Poppies have stemmed the bleeding following three successive losses, the patient is still on the operating table rather than in recovery. Over the past five games KTFC have endured three losses (2-1 at Stamford; 3-0 away at Bromsgrove; 2-0 away at Spalding United) and two wins (5-0 at home vs. Stourbridge and 0-2 away at Quorn). KTFC have fallen to eleventh place in the league obtaining twenty-seven points, seven points off the play-offs places where Real Bedford lie in fifth with a game in hand.

Form-wise, the Poppies are firmly in mid table in tenth place with six points from out last five games securing a corresponding tenth place in the away form table a single rung above Saturday’s visitors, with thirteen points from their last ten away games.

When it come to promotion hopefuls, league leaders Spalding United are at home to eighth placed Leiston, Harborough Town travel to Bishop’s Stortford; a tantalising fixture at Needham Market where second meets third in the shape of Quorn and Alvechurch entertain fifth placed Redditch United.

As for our upcoming match, momentum and confidence are paramount. Both clubs, following the weekend results, have these attributes in spades and given the high scoring nature of The Yeltz, and Poppies return to form the game is unlikely to be a score bore outcome. Halesowen are pushing for promotion and Kettering are desperate to continue their winning streak so prepare for a festive bonanza at the Grove.

Enjoy the game.

COYP!

HALESOWEN TOWN

Season        V        Comp           F-A     Att:    Poppies Scorers

1946-47        H        BDL              0-1     3014

                     A        BDL              2-5                Burt, Burgess

1947-48        H        BDL              4-2     4046   Henley.3, Woolhead

                     A        BDL              4-1                Lawrence, Strathie, Henley, Own goal

1948-49        H        BDL              2-0                Mitchell.2

                     A        BDL              0-4

1949-50        H        BDL              2-3     1172   Puplett, Woolhead

                     A        BDL              2-3     1000   Puplett, Woolhead

2018-19       H        ESLSPC       2-0     628    Kelly, Solkhon

                     A        ESLSPC       1-0     938    Hoenes

2023-24        H        PISLPC        2-2     905    Mellors-Blair (p), Jarvis

                     A        PISLPC        2-1     1051   Lewthwaite, Bennett

2024-25        H        PISLPC        0-0     996

                     A        PISLPC        1-2     1216   Jarvis

POPPIES WINS:     6                                       GOALS FOR:                     24

YELTZ WINS:         6                                        GOALS AGAINST:            24

DRAWS                 2

Most goals in a game for the Poppies v Halesowen Town (3)

Burt Henley (1947-48)

Played for both clubs (47)                                                  

Manager (1)

Brendan Phillips

Managed both clubs (1)

Morell Mason

League debuts (16)

HALESOWEN TOWN

Manager                           Russ Penn

Ground                             The Grove

Nickname                         The Yeltz

Position in League           7^th – 31pts from 19 games

Top League scorer           14 – Jason Cowley

THE YELTZ SO FAR…