A win and a draw in the last seven days is certainly a marked improvement for the Poppies from where we started in October. The arrival of Liam McDonald has sparked a retrieval as Tuesday witnessed with KTFC’s joint biggest win this season at ON Chenecks on the Hillier Senior Cup. We would have to go back to the 3-0 victory against Leiston in August to rival such a result.   

Ten points now separate the top ten teams and Kettering reside in ninth place with twenty-one points whilst fifth playoff place Real Bedford have accumulated twenty-four points and have a game in hand. League leaders Spalding United entertain last Saturday’s opponents St Ives Town, Harborough Town are also at home to Alvechurch, Real Bedford travel to AFC Stamford who themselves won on the weekend and Redditch United are away to Needham Market.

If the Poppies want to stay in touch with the leading pack, an away result is a must. Whilst we have only competitively played once against Quorn, losing 1-2 away at the Stotto Stadium in the Emirates FA Cup, given the playoff implications of the result, the clash on Saturday is a highly anticipated match.

Following their promotion, Quorn have been a surprise package this season playing open free flowing football with three wins (3-4 Bishop’s Stopford; 2-0 against Bury Town; 3-4 at Alvechurch) and two draws (1-1 away last time out at Spalding and 2-2 at home vs. Halesowen) in their past five league games. These results have led to them nestling in third place with twenty-seven goals three points behind leaders Spalding United and in fifth place in the form table securing a respectable eleven points out of a possible fifteen.  

Liam McDonald has had time to get to know the players and the midweek win against ON Chenecks provided a welcome opportunity to assimilate the squad into his way of playing. Apart from the addition of winger, Ryan Monga, who made his debut and scored on Tuesday night, the only change in the Poppies squad is the welcome return of Kai Fifield who has been in prolific form whilst on loan at Quorn scoring three goals in four appearances. It is clear we need a striker and return of 3 goals in seven matches is no recipe for success.

However, in the last five games, Poppies form has improved with one draw (0-0 at home vs St Ives) three losses (0-1 Needham Market; 4-0 Redditch Untied; 2-0 Alvechurch) and a single win away at Banbury 0-2. This leaves the club in ninth place on twenty-one points, seventeenth in the form table with four points from a possible fifteen. However, we are only three points off the play off places.

The Poppies will be looking for revenge for the FA Cup defeat however, given Quorn’s unbeaten run in their last five games we are in for an entertaining, enthralling and tough match at the Stotto Stadium.     

Enjoy the game.

UTP  

                                                         QUORN

Season        V        Comp           F-A     Att:    Poppies Scorers

2015-16        A        Friendly         3-2     120     Sandy.3

2025-26        A        FAC2Q         1-2     757     Oppong         

POPPIES                WINS:           0                  GOALS FOR:                      1

METHODISTS        WINS:           1                   GOALS AGAINST:               2

DRAWS                                       0

Played for both clubs (18)

Goalkeepers

Carl Adams, Lawrie Dudfield, Craig Attwood, Wayne Diuk, Jamie March, Scott Goodwin, Russell Hoult, Andrew Osei-Siribour, Ash Robinson, James Jepson, Kalern Thomas, Henry Eze, Ben Bradshaw, Charlie Marzano, Tyree Wilson, Devon Kelly-Evans, Declan Towers, Kai Fifield (loan).

Managers of both clubs (2)

Marcus Law, Richard Lavery.

Managers (3)

Doug Keast, Lawrie Dudfield, Russell Hoult.

Assistant manager of both clubs (2)

Paul O’Brien, Tom Cherry.

Assistant Manager (1)

Russell Hoult

Played for both clubs (17)

Goalkeepers

Carl Adams, Lawrie Dudfield, Craig Attwood, Wayne Diuk, Jamie March, Scott Goodwin, Russell Hoult, Andrew Osei-Siribour, Ash Robinson, James Jepson, Kalern Thomas, Henry Eze, Ben Bradshaw, Charlie Marzano, Tyree Wilson, Devon Kelly-Evans, Declan Towers.

Managers of both clubs (2)

Marcus Law, Richard Lavery.

Managers (3)

Doug Keast, Lawrie Dudfield, Russell Hoult.

Assistant manager of both clubs (2)

Paul O’Brien, Tom Cherry.

Assistant Manager (1)

Russell Houl

QUORN

Manager                                     Ryan Beswick

Nickname                                   The Methodists

Ground                                       Farley Way Stadium

League Position                        3^rd – 27pts from 14 games

Top League scorer                     6 – Zak Goodson

Form (last 5 league games)        WWDWD      11pts

Quorn so far….