United will journey up the A14 on Easter Monday for a tricky encounter with Mark Cooper's Kettering side. The A-Line Arena outfit will view this as their last chance to maintain a play-off challenge following the 1-0 loss at local rivals Rushden on Saturday, whilst the U's look to further strengthen their hold on second place.
Kettering were founder members of the Football Alliance, (Conference, now BSP) in 1979. Our Northamptonshire neighbours held their status until relegation in 2001, returned in 2002, were relegated within a year, and then qualified for the reworked Conference North. Paul Gascoigne was manager temporarily in 2005/06, before 2006/07 ended in play-off heartache for the now full-time Poppies. Last season they romped to the title under Mark Cooper with five games to spare.
They began the campaign with seven straight victories and, went on to record just one league defeat, a 2-0 home loss to Hyde United, before the end of the calendar year. Important away wins arrived at promotion rivals Telford and Tamworth, whilst the home form cake was iced thanks to a 6-0 thumping of Vauxhall Motors.
With new signing from the Mighty U's Jon Brady supplying the ammunition for another former United man in Craig Westcarr, the Poppies became a force.
Furthermore, the goal count was being boosted by more of the ex-United contingent as David Bridges, Tommy Jaszczun and Brady bagged a collective eleven goals prior to the Christmas break.
The New Year was welcomed with a 6-1 hammering of Solihull Moors at the A-Line Arena (formerly Rockingham Road) and, despite a home loss to improving Stalybridge in mid-January, consistency was the key as consecutive five-goal hauls over Southport and Hinckley will testify. An eye-catching ten victories in their remaining twelve games wrapped up the title, meaning Cooper's men took a formidable record and unenviable momentum into the current campaign.
The Squad
The Poppies defence conceded just 34 goals last year thanks to the experience of goalkeeper Lee Harper, who has remained first choice this season. The back four is admirably controlled by a combination of goalscoring captain John Dempster, man mountain Guy Branston, irreplaceable following his capture last year from Notts County, and, the fabulously named Exodus Geohaghon, who signed from Redditch United in the summer. The latter two may well form the central defensive partnership, unless Cooper opts for a wing-back system or Dempster is selected for a midfield role.
The full-back positions will probably be filled by former Birmingham and Nottingham Forest man Nicky Eaden and talented youngster Luke Potter. Left-sided Potter has been a regular in the side following a long-term injury to former U's man Tommy Jaszczun during January. The 31-year has since been released from his contract and will pursue his career elsewhere.
In midfield another ex-U, Jon Brady, has also departed, whilst David Bridges joined Stevenage prior to the commencement of the season. Therefore, bustling Peterborough loanee Alfie Potter, who is one of the first names on the team sheet each week, will patrol the middle of the park along with ex-Walsall and Aldershot man Andre Boucaud, long-serving Brett Solkhon or, ex-Walsall man Darren Wrack, who prefers a holding role. Depending on the formation Cooper decides on against United, Boucaud could play as an out-and-out left-winger, whilst Potter may mirror him on the right.
Cooper has a wealth of options up front, despite the recent departure of experienced campaigners Jason Lee and Iyseden Christie to Corby and Torquay respectively. Chris Beardsley and Craig Westcarr started against Rushden at the weekend with eighteen-goal top scorer Gareth Seddon left on the bench, possibly with the game against United in mind. Ex-Kidderminster and York striker Beardsley has bagged five goals to date, with former United man Westcarr sitting on eleven.
The lightning quick Jean-Paul Marna also has ten to his name from just 22 starts and, may sit ominously behind the front two on Monday, as he did at Nene Park on Saturday. Meanwhile, chomping at the bit should the starters fail to impress will be loanees Ryan Charles, Ben Wright and Richard Graham who are temporarily based at the A-Line Arena from Luton, Peterborough and Dagenham.
The season so far
The Poppies were keen to maintain the momentum from last year's promotion in their opening game against Forest Green. John Dempster, who has popped up with a handy seven goals during the campaign, kicked-off proceedings at the A-Line Arena but the visitors snatched a late equaliser to ensure a 1-1 draw. In fact, their first four games all ended in the same scoreline, until the mould was broken with a 2-0 victory over the U's at the Trade Recruitment Stadium in August.
Results continued to improve, and a barnstorming run of nine wins and a draw from twelve games saw them sit proudly top of the table at the beginning of November, with thoughts of a second consecutive promotion surely in their minds. During this fantastic streak of form, home fans were treated to wins over Northwich, York, Stevenage, Kidderminster and Woking, with the only blip a 1-0 reverse to Burton. To accompany the win over United, away victories were also claimed at Barrow, Eastbourne and Salisbury, in addition to a point snaffled from Oxford.
However, since then inconsistency in the league has run alongside a fixture pile up. Nevertheless, financial coffers were boosted by a decent sojourn in both the Setanta Shield and FA Cup, with the latter competition concluding in front of the TV cameras. Victories over Football League sides Notts County and Lincoln set up a tie with Premiership Fulham but, although the game was poised at 2-2, two 90th minute goals flattened Kettering's hopes.
Their Setanta Shield run was halted at the quarter-final stage three days earlier as eventual winners Telford claimed victory, as they did at the back end of January in the FA Trophy.
By this time Kettering had dipped to twelfth in the table thanks to a mere two wins in three months, but Cooper must have been confident that, with seven games in hand over some of their rivals, the play-offs were still within reach. Nevertheless, with them playing catch-up and fixtures often scheduled for a Saturday and then twice midweek, fatigue has been evident.
Expected victories on the road were claimed at Woking and Weymouth, although, confidence-sapping losses arrived after trips to Stevenage, Torquay and last Saturday at Rushden. Meanwhile, Cooper would have wanted the draws at Mansfield, Northwich, York and Burton to be turned into victories to nail that elusive play-off spot. Home form has been better, with Altrincham, Lewes, Ebbsfleet and Histon all beaten, whilst revenge was gained over Torquay thanks to an impressive 2-1 success. Cooper, though, will hark back to the disappointing draws with lowly Grays and Barrow, in addition to the 1-0 defeat to Eastbourne.
Overall, the Poppies have a decent record of eleven wins and four draws in front of the home fans, but five losses will give Gary Brabin's men food for thought on Monday. Furthermore, considering the wealth of attacking options, goalscoring form at the A-Line has been disappointing and their 23 goal haul is the fourth poorest in the division behind struggling Woking, doomed Northwich and relegated Lewes.
With the Poppies currently sitting in ninth place, eight points from the play-off places, and having not scored in three matches, realistically their boat may have sailed. Therefore, Cooper will hope to finish the season with a flourish rather than a damp squib.
Matchday Connection
Ron Atkinson was an uncompromising centre-half who, despite starting his playing career at Aston Villa, went on to play 383 times for Oxford United. Aged 32 he took the Managerial reins at Kettering in 1971, guided them to the 1973 Southern League title before joining Cambridge United in 1974. Cigar-smoking larger than life Ron slowly assembled a strong attack-minded squad, including future legends Alan Biley and Steve Spriggs, and his charges duly lifted the 1977 Division Four title.
The U's finished second the following season and were promoted to Division Two, but Atkinson had left the club in January to take over at West Bromwich Albion. The Tank, as he was known in his playing days, led Albion to a third place Division One finish in 1979, before managing Manchester United, West Brom, (again) Atletico Madrid, Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa, Coventry, Sheffield Wednesday, (again) and Nottingham Forest.
Ron then took up a consultancy role at Swindon, and in January 2007 appeared back at Kettering as Director of Football. He left after ten months, before a four-month stint as footballing consultant at Halesowen Town.
Doug Shulman
The views expressed on this page are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cambridge United Football Club or the webmaster.
090413
