OVERVIEW

THE Blues head to Kettering Town this weekend to play ‘The Poppies’ in Northamptonshire.

Richard Lavery’s team are currently the front runners at the top of the division and they boast an attacking force that includes Nile Ranger (ex-Newcastle United) and Gary Hooper (Celtic, Norwich City and Sheffield Wednesday).

Kettering lead the table on 33 points, four ahead of second placed Halesowen Town, from their 15 games so far and have a very healthy goal difference of +19.

Leiston, meanwhile, made it eight unbeaten in all competitions last Saturday as they beat St Ives Town 3-1 in Cambridgeshire. Aaron Smith’s early strike was cancelled out by Jamar Loza just before the break and the same player put Leiston ahead on the hour mark. Chris Wigger’s side then made sure of the three points in the sixth minute of stoppage time when sub Albie Armin finished well.

After sitting in 20th place in the table after a 1-1 draw at Hitchin Town back in October, the Blues have gone up 12 places to 8th in their last six league matches. They are now seven unbeaten in the league.

RECENT MEETINGS

LEISTON and Kettering first met in September 2018 in Northamptonshire, the Blues coming away with a 2-1 win, with Dominic Docherty and Patrick Brothers on target.

Later that season, in March 2019, Kettering scored a late goal in stoppage time to win 1-0 at Victory Road, which helped them go to within touching distance of the league title (a title they won a couple of weeks later).

Last season, the Blues lost 2-0 at home to Kettering in October 2023 but in March later in the campaign, the sides drew 2-2 at Latimer Park with Jamar Loza scoring a brace for the Blues.

FORM GUIDE

(Starting with most recent)
KETTERING TOWN: - DWWWW
BLUES: - WWDDW.

MEET THE OPPOSITION

KNOWN as ‘The Poppies’, Kettering were formed in 1872 and their current ground can hold up to 2,500 spectators.

They played in the Southern League and Central Alliance League early in their tenure, winning the Southern League in 1956-57 but after applying for full FA Football League Membership, had to remain in the Southern League.

Kettering were runners-up in the Conference League in 1994 and 1999, whilst they lost in the 2000 FA Trophy Final, 3-2, to Kingstonian. The game was played at the old Wembley Stadium.

FUN FACTS!

DID you know that when the Blues reached the 1st Round of the FA Cup in 2008….. Kettering Town made it all the way to the 4th Round!

That FA Cup run for Leiston saw them eventually lose 2-0 at Highbury Avenue to Fleetwood Town in a First Round replay. However, Kettering defeated Lincoln City 2-1 in the First Round that year, and followed it up by beating Notts County (by the same score) in a 2nd Round Replay. They then beat Eastwood Town 2-1 at home in Round Three before losing 4-2 at Fulham in the 4th Round.

Kettering also reached Round 4 in the 1988-1989 season, beating Dartford, Bristol Rovers and Halifax Town in the first three rounds before losing 2-1 at First Division Charlton Athletic.

COMING UP FOR THE BLUES

LEISTON can look forward to home comforts on Tuesday night when they host Lowestoft Town in the Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup 2nd Round (Last 16) (7.45pm kick off). This is before they welcome AFC Telford United to Suffolk next weekend (Saturday 30th November) in league action.

MATCH INFORMATION
Kettering Town v Blues
Pitching In Southern League Central Premier
3pm kick off
Polwell Lane, Burton Latimer, Northants, NN15 5PS
Tel: - 01536 217006.

Admission Prices:- Adults £15, Concessions £10 (over 60’s and students with a valid ID Card), U16’s £2.
Game 17/42.