Kettering Preview

Boro face arguably their biggest game of the season against 3rd place Kettering Town at Rockingham Road this weekend. Graham Westley’s side, who currently sit 2nd, are six points behind table toppers Oxford United while Kettering are a point further back of Boro, but have a game in hand. 3 points in Northamptonshire would give Boro a bit of breathing space as they challenge for top spot.

Last season’s visit to Kettering was not a pleasant one. Westley’s newly formed side were struggling to find their feet and were in the bottom half of the table, while Mark Cooper’s team, promoted the previous season from the Conference North, were flying high in the top half of the division. In what was a close game, Stevenage lost 1-0 thanks to a first half Chris Beardsley strike, although they dominated the game late on and were unlucky not to come home with a point. The reverse fixture at Broadhall Way was a much more memorable game. Boro were beginning to reach top gear in the second half of the campaign and beat their play-off rivals thanks to a late Peter Vincenti winner. Sound familiar?

Westley is expected to keep faith with the team that started the FA Cup game last weekend at Chelmsford. The only changes I can see happening could be Mitchell Cole coming in for Eddie Odhiambo and Chris Beardsley coming back into the starting 11 to face his former club. Kettering lost influential defender Guy Branston in the summer and attacker Craig Westcarr to Burton and Notts County respectively, but again Mark Cooper has bought wisely in the summer. Francis Green, Ian Roper and Moses Ashikodi are just some of the signings that have already impressed the Poppies faithful. Ashikodi has been injured recently, but is expected to face Boro on Saturday.

Kettering is of course one of Westley’s former club’s and there has always been a bit of a rivalry between the clubs down the years. I remember that there was even a bit of crowd trouble before one of the games about 10-12 years ago, which is unheard of at Broadhall Way. The importance of the fixture has ‘watered down’ in recent years mainly due to Kettering being relegated from the top tier of the Conference in the early millenium. However, with both clubs challenging at the top again, the game has added importance again.

In the many trips I’ve made up the A14 in the past, I’ve always rather enjoyed going to Rockingham Road, although the ground is a dump. As usual, the Boro fans will be ‘housed’ at the end near the main stand with no roof. We usually take a fair number up there though and I don’t see any reason why we can’t do the same on Saturday. Boro’s away form has been good this season, with just the one defeat so far at Oxford. If we can play as well as did against the likes of Mansfield and Luton then I think we will win the game. Boro worked extremely hard in both of those games and will need to do the same to get anything from Kettering.

Stevenage Squad

Ashley Bayes, Chris Day, Scott Laird, Ronnie Henry, Jon Ashton, Mark Roberts, Mark Albrighton, Eddie Odhiambo, Michael Bostwick, Stacy Long, David Bridges, Darren Murphy, Andy Drury, Joel Byrom, Mitchell Cole, Yemi Odubade, Lee Boylan, Charlie Griffin, Chris Beardsley, Peter Vincenti

Prediction: Kettering 1-2 Boro