Match Preview
It’s third vs fourth in the Evo-Sik Southern Premier Division as Weymouth travel to in-form Kettering Town on Saturday afternoon.
On Tuesday night Calvin Brooks made it 8 goals for the season when his finish against Slough Town proved enough to earn Weymouth a valuable victory over the playoff contenders. Meanwhile Kettering Town found themselves involved in an thrilling fixture against Dorchester Town on Tuesday, when they had to twice come from behind to win 4-3; a goal from Brett Solkhon and a hat-trick from Aaron O’Connor saw the Poppies to victory against the 10-man Magpies.
The victory on Tuesday for Weymouth sees them take their run to 4 victories in a row and 9 wins in their last 10 games; Weymouth can also boast a run of having kept 3 clean sheets in a row. Kettering Town are also on a run of 4 straight victories, in all they have won 6 out of their last 7 games, scoring 24 goals along the way. In their last 4 games, free-scoring Kettering Town have only failed to score less than 4 goals in a game once, when they beat Frome Town 3-0. It is no surprise that they are the top scorers in all of the top 4 flights of the Non-League Pyramid with an incredible 97 goals in 38 games.
Kettering Town are currently managed by Marcus Law, who is in his second spell at the club. Marcus managed Kettering Town from 2010-2011 and led them to a 14th place finish in the Conference National. Law began his second spell in May 2015, following Kettering Town’s promotion to the Southern Premier. Kettering Town have finished 6th and 9th in the Southern Premier under Law but look set to finish in the playoffs this season. Marcus Law has already racked up around 15 years of managerial experience despite only being 42 years old, he has also had spells working as a scout in the professional game.
A 2-1 victory for King’s Lynn Town on Tuesday night, when they had to come from behind to beat Basingstoke Town, means that a 4 point deficit remains and leaves Weymouth unable to catch them this weekend. Kettering Town’s victory over Dorchester Town means that they remain just 2 points behind Weymouth and a win this weekend would see them a point ahead with 2 games in hand.
Elsewhere in the top 5, on Good Friday Slough Town are away to Dunstable Town, and on Saturday afternoon King’s Lynn Town travel to Stratford Town and Hereford are at home to Royston Town.
Current League Standings
| # | Team | Pl | HW | HD | HL | AW | AD | AL | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| 3 | Weymouth | 40 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 26 | 6 | 8 | 89 | 42 | 47 | 84 |
| 4 | Kettering Town | 38 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 25 | 7 | 6 | 97 | 43 | 54 | 82 |
Team News
Mark Molesley has the luxury of no injury problems and is expected to go to Kettering with a full strength side.
News From The Terras
Speaking to theterras.com Mark Molesley said “We were really pleased with the performance against Slough at such a critical time with lots of games fit in.
“I’ve said it before, the next game is the biggest game. Ourselves and Kettering both want to finish above each other and they are probably favourites to do that at this moment with their games in hand. They have a great home record and they are a really good side.
“It’s a tough place to go but I’m looking forward to going there with my group of players and we are full of confidence.
“We respect everyone, but we don’t fear anyone. The supporters have got a team to be proud of so we urge them to keep up the support. It’s a busy period and we will assess everyone to make sure we are as prepared as possible.”
News From The Poppies
Speaking to the Northampton Telegraph after Kettering Town’s 4-3 victory over Dorchester Town, Marcus Law said “It was probably one of the few games this season where we have come out and won and we didn’t deserve to.
“Certainly from a defensive point of view, we didn’t deserve anything but we have managed to score another four goals and that has saved us.
“We got out of jail, there’s no question about that, but at the same time we have forced their goalkeeper to make four or five outstanding saves as well as scoring the goals we did.
“Dorchester belied their poor away record and their league position and played very well, especially being down to 10 men. “But we have some defensive issues that we really must look at before the weekend.”
One to Watch
Aaron O’Connor
Aaron O’Connor’s hat-trick against Dorchester Town took him to 32 goals in all competition and 25 in the league. O’Connor will be hoping to score some more over the upcoming weeks to put some pressure on Brandon Goodship for the golden boot.
Speaking to the Northampton Telegraph, Marcus Law said about O’Connor “I said when we signed Aaron that if we got him up to full fitness then he would be a forced to be reckoned with and I think that has been proven now
“He has repaid the faith I have shown in him and for him to hit 30 goals already this season is an excellent achievement.
“There are strikers who have scored more goals in the league than him but I don’t think there are many better in all honesty.
“His work-rate is second to none and he is the sort of player who will come up with the goods even when he is having a bad day.”
The Stats Say
In the five meetings between the two sides since Kettering Town’s promotion in 2015, Weymouth have won 4 and lost 1, although the Terras last visit to Latimer Park ended in a 3-1 defeat.
A fixture which always seems to produce goals, there have been 19 goals in the past 5 meetings, with Weymouth scoring 11 of these and Kettering Town with 8.
Weymouth have only conceded once with Thiago Caze da Silva on the pitch, 4 starts and 1 sub appearance.
Admission Info
Adults – £10
Concessions – £6
Under 16 – £1
Kettering Town Football Club
Latimer Park
Polwell Lane
Burton Latimer
Kettering
NN15 5PS
Last Time We Met
Weymouth picked up their first home win of this season the last time the two sides met, having lost to St Ives Town and drawn with Stratford Town at home, Weymouth were desperate to make amends and did so in style.
Callum Buckley netted an unfortunate own goal, but a quick response from Weymouth with goals from Ben Thomson and on loan Jordan Rose saw Weymouth 2-1 up at half-time and a late clincher from Harry Baker saw Weymouth cruise to a 3-1 victory.
Terras: Travers, Brooks, Cooper, Wells, Rose, Buckley, Carmichael, McCarthy, Thomson, Goodship (Baker 82), Wakefield (Davis 77).
Subs not used: Down, Prodomo, Rodriguez.
Goals: Thomson (28′) Rose (33′) Baker (83′)
Kettering Town: White, Berry, Brighton (Bates 53), Solkhon, Mulligan, Richens, Hoenes (Stevens 57), O’Connor, Howe, Milnes, Meikle.
Subs not used: Baker, Stohrer, Sundire.
Goals: Buckley OG (20′)
Attendance: 684
Terras Man of the Match: Calvin Brooks
