Match Preview | Kettering Town (A)

Feb 245 min read

Halesowen face off in their 10th midweek league game of the season against Kettering Town at Latimer Park

Written by Ben Ditchfield

The high of the late comeback in the number 9 derby follow the Yeltz into a quick turnaround on and off the pitch as they travel to Northamptonshire on Tuesday night in a 3rd v 5th clash against an inconsistent Poppies side who have lost five games so far this calendar year.

In the five most recent meetings between the two sides dating back to the 2018/19 season, Halesowen have only won one of them. The victory came back in August, in this seasons reverse fixture at The Grove. In the two meetings at Latimer Park, the Yeltz lost 2-0 in August 2018 and drew 2-2 in August 2023. McKauley Manning is the clubs highest scorer in those five matches. The Yeltz forward has scored two times, one in the last meeting, and the other at Latimer Park in the 2-2 draw in 2023.

Russ Penn's side have enjoyed a joyous time at The Grove this season, with the best home record in the division and eight wins in their last 10. When you flip the form book over to the away record, the side have recently gone five without a win on the road for the first time since April 2019, four of which the side failed to register a single goal. The club also have a shambolic return from games on the road against the current top 12. In the seven they have played against teams around that area, away from home, Penn's Yeltz have picked up just the one point, and have failed to score in five of them.

The majority of the recent positives have come from the home matches. The much needed return to goalscoring form for Kieren Donnelly, has seen the top scorer score five goals in his last four games, having gone through a spell of eight without a goal prior. The sensational impacts from Milan Butterfield and Charlie Wragg at the weekend off the bench, will give the side a much needed boost, ahead of a tough team selection for Penn on Tuesday. Wragg's goal on Saturday was his first in his eight Yeltz appearances, while Butterfield's header towards Donnelly for the second of the afternoon for the side on the day, was his first assist for the club.

Our opponents Kettering, have been in a similar inconsistent vain of form themselves. The side infamously recalled for their run to the FA Cup second round, by beating Northampton Town on route, have dropped 22 points in their last 13 league games. The Poppies went on an incredible run of just two defeats in 16 league games before their exit from England's premier cup competition, but since then, they have lost six times. The side have spent 95 days at the top of the league across the season, but the last time they were at the summit was on the 18th of January, and there have been three different table toppers since. The Poppies away record, like the Yeltz, has been atrocious off late, in particular against the sides near the higher regions of the table. At home though, they are formidable, with just one defeat in 14 at Latimer Park. Lavery's side conceded a whopping eight times in three games over the new year, but since, their defensive strengths have returned, which has seen them let in just four goals in six.

Poppies boss Richard Lavery was appointed at the Northamptonshire side back in February last year, just two weeks before Penn was appointed at The Grove. Lavery was brought in following the sacking off Andy Leese in November 2023 and the mutual agreement to part ways with Jim Le Masurier as temporary manager, at the start of February last year. Lavery, 47, was assistant manager at the club in their promotion to the National League North in the 2018/19 season, but then left to become assistant boss at Nuneaton Borough. In November 2021, he got his first job as a manager, when he was appointed as manager of Quorn FC. He spent two and a half years in Leicestershire, and won promotion to step 4 in the 2022/23 campaign. His remarkable time at Quorn, led to his appointment at Kettering, where he has since been in charge of 52 games, which has included just 16 defeats, and 83 goals scored, an average of 1.6 a game.

The Poppies are blessed with a plethora of experience amongst their ranks. The additions of Jonathan Edwards, Nile Ranger, Terell Pennant and Wes York amongst others this season, have significantly improved Lavery's side, from their woeful form of one win in six and a 15th placed finish at the end of the last campaign. In the side's 37 matches in all competitions across this season, six players have featured in at least 30 of them, Aaron Powell, Ben Hart, Dan Jezeph, Connor Johnson, Tyree Wilson and Isiah Noel-Williams.

The one thing that has haunted The Poppies in recent weeks, is the lack of an in-form goalscorer. The side who have scored 67 goals in all competitions this season, do not have a single player with more than 12 across the campaign. Jonathan Edwards is their highest scorer, with 11, in his 20 club appearances. The striker was known for his prolific ability to find the back of the net during his time at St Ives last season, where he scored 30 league goals, more than any other player in the Southern Prem.

Edwards, is currently going through a poor run, of just one goal in his last nine league games since Boxing Day. Nile Ranger joins Edwards on double figures for the season, but like the latter, Ranger has also found the net just once since the 26th of December. Terell Pennant is their in-form forward at the moment, having scored three goals in eight appearances, since the 22 year old joined from Rushall Olympic over the new year. Their most recent goalscorer against Bedford last Friday, midfielder Devon Kelly-Evans, has scored twice in seven games, after he went 21 games this campaign, without a goal prior to that.

Their formidable record at home this season, has seen them score 32 goals, only Telford United and Bedford Town (36) have scored more. They have conceded just 12 times at Latimer Park too, only Banbury United's Spencer Stadium has seen fewer home goals fly in (11). Kettering score first in the majority of their games this campaign, 58% of them in fact, only Stamford (66%) and Telford (59%) have a higher percentage. The Poppies have been at their most dangerous in the 15 minute period after half-time this campaign, as only Bedford (13) have scored more goals in that time period, than Lavery's sides 11. Kettering are at their most vulnerable in the final 15 minutes of matches, with 10 goals conceded, while their best defensive period this campaign, is in the first 15 minutes of matches, which has seen them concede just three times.

Key Seasonal Stats

Kettering

League Position - 3rd

Season Record - PL37 21W 5D 11L 67GS 42GC

Form (Last 5 Games) - WLWWL

Top Scorer - Jonathan Edwards (11 Goals)

Most Appearances - Aaron Powell (36)

Most Starts - Aaron Powell (36)

Biggest League Win - 4-0 vs Spalding United (Home - 13th August)

Biggest League Defeat - 3-1 vs Bedford Town (Away - 21st February)

Longest Unbeaten Run - 9 Games (12th October - 1st December)

Longest Winless Run - 5 Games (28th December - 1st February)