Conference North Mid-week preview

Kettering's chances of sneaking into the play-offs remain slim, but undeniably look a little less slim due to the defeat of the team currently occupying the 5th spot, namely Droylsden.

Poppies fans will no doubt be keeping an eye on the matches being played on Monday and Tuesday night this week as they involve Droylsden and the four teams currently occupying positions 7 to 10 immediately below us.

Droylsden look to have a good chance of winning at home against struggling Redditch Utd, who Kettering hammered 4-0 a fortnight ago at Rockingham Road, but at the same time the Reds will be desperate to scrap for points to avoid the drop at the end of the season.

In the other Conference North fixture on Monday night, rock-bottom club Hednesford Town entertain fellow strugglers Leigh RMI, currently just one place above them. A win for the Pitmen would boost their chances of survival, defeat would undoubtably leave them as hot favourites for the drop.

Stalybridge Celtic and Worcester City battle it out at Bower Fold and Moor Green will try to continue their impressive run at home to Hinckley Utd. Kettering could find themselves dropping a couple of places should those results turn out to be unfavourable for the Poppies.

Another outside outfit, Workington, travel to Lancaster City to try and maintain the pressure on the teams jockeying for position just outside the play-off places.

In the final match on Tuesday night, there could be a change of table toppers if Northwich Victoria get at least a draw at strugglers Vauxhall Motors, hardly an outcome I would bet strongly against.