Kettering were soundly beaten by lowly Gloucester on Saturday, ending their involvement in this season’s FA Trophy. It was by all accounts a thoroughly flat performance, and it would be handy if they carry that form into this match, rather than reacting to it with a making-amends showing. Ex-Hereford loanee Ollie Hulbert scored two goals for Gloucester as he continues to rise up the NLN top scorer charts, suggesting that he’s got some real potential.
The Poppies are a point behind Hereford, but have two games in hand. They’ve found life tough since coming up two seasons ago, and probably wouldn’t have beaten the drop if Covid hadn’t played its part in cutting those seasons short. However, they’re making a decent fist of things this season, and have won three of their five away games, including a victory at York. Callum Powell is their top scorer with a very respectable seven goals. Fellow forward Kyle Perry had a brief loan spell with Hereford United in 2012, and makes Mike Symons look like a jockey. It’s probably safe to say that he’s now in the autumn of his career, an autumn when it’s seemingly always lunchtime. If he plays, which is far from certain, he’ll give the Meadow End plenty of material. Captain Connor Kennedy will be looking to pull the strings for the Poppies in midfield, and is certainly one to be wary of. Ex-Bull Mike McGrath has now left the club, so the Edgar Street changing rooms should be safe.
It must be said that Kettering have players with good pedigrees throughout the squad, so their relatively buoyant start to the season is no surprise, and they’re not the whipping boys of old, more’s the pity.
If the Bulls win this one 8-0 they’ll move into the play offs. As unlikely as that is, even being vaguely in the same postcode as Play-off Land demonstrates just how well the team has performed in November.
Supporters will be full of confidence for this one, with Krystian Pearce continuing his fine form at the back (and vindicating the faith Josh Gowling showed in The Chief when bringing him to Edgar Street), and plenty of in-form creatives up front, with Tom Owen-Evans, Ryan McLean and Zeli Ismael looking consistently threatening, although the latter may be a doubt here after coming off in the Kiddy game. With Miles Storey still to come back in, the new lad Jaanai Gordon looking like he might have something in his locker, Maz Kouhyar keen to re-establish himself as a starter, and Harry Pinchard presumably not too far off a return, there are plenty of options for unlocking NLN defences. All this, and Victor Sodeinde starting to find a cutting edge as he becomes match sharp.
And a word here too for Ben Pollock, whose bottle has been evident all season, but to be so keen to play when he could have chosen not to take any chances with his current migraine issue should leave no-one in doubt about his commitment to the club and his teammates. I’m sure supporters won’t forget that in a hurry.
If anyone finishes above Kidderminster this season it would be surprising if they didn’t do so as champions, so to run them close on Saturday is further evidence that a/ a play-off place isn’t too much to ask Santa for over Christmas, and b/ revenge against Harriers in games that actually matter isn’t out of the question, and would be all the sweeter after their dirty lowlife antics following Saturday’s penalties.
This is the last in the recent run of home games, as on Saturday the Bulls travel to the Costa del Scouse for a tricky and no doubt bracing encounter against a resurgent Southport, which will be no picnic.
However, the weather warms up for this one, before going cold again. If it’s yet another full moon during an evening under the Edgar Street lights I really will start to get confused about just what outer space is up to this season. Maybe it’s a cardboard moon they’ve stuck above the Premier Inn.
One thing’s for sure: this fixture won’t be played in bright sunshine in front of 4,500 people, which it was in April 2018, a match Hereford won 4-1 – remember that? Smashing.
It may not end 8-0, but a win would wrap up a thoroughly pleasing November, and set things up very nicely for a push into the play-offs in December. Seventh place by Christmas would do very nicely.
Really looking forward to it – see you there.
COYW