So the play-offs it is

 

Action from Saturday's 2-2 draw with Banbury

So in the end it didn't really matter what the result at Bedford was as The Poppies were unable to do what we needed to do after a late goal from Tai Fleming saw Banbury United leave Latimer Park with a point from a 2-2 draw. Myself, I wasn't to downbeat as I'd pretty much accepted a play-off place and had given up on us winning the league title weeks ago. I do think we threw it away as it was in our hands for so long but you have to give full credit to Bedford Town because league tables do not lie so they are worthy champions.

I do think that had Bedford been losing we would have won Saturday's game. At 2-1 in front we were pretty comfortable but once news came through that Bedford were 2-0 in front and it was clear it was the play-offs for us Lav's rightly began to make subs, using all five with Wednesday night's play-off game in mind. Taking off Jamar Loza who single handedly ripped the Banbury defence apart definitely helped let Banbury back into the game. From the first minute in his first game six games ago Loza has been a class above and I honestly do think had we signed him a month or two earlier it would be The Poppies celebrating a league title. But we didn't, and we find ourselves in the lottery that is the play-offs.

And our opponents in the play-off semi-final is Harborough Town. A club seventeen and a bit miles up the road and one that like Kettering have a very big wage budget but that fact never seems to get mentioned about them. Some in the Harborough camp may try and fool you with the "Little old Harborough Town" line and make out that them reaching the play-offs is some kind of football miracle but with the signings and the budget they have they should be making the play-offs.

One thing is for sure though, They are a good side with a number of players that are excellent at this level. They are well coached by assistant manager David Staff and the manager Mitch Austin, the one time Poppies assistant manager has built a great team spirit. They are the form side in the division who since boxing day have lost only two games out of twenty-two fixtures. Form like that you could possibly say makes them favourites for the game, although they will try and play that down.

Whilst The Poppies performances since the New Year have been no where near the level that they were pre 2025 we have only lost two of our last sixteen games. We have players that can win a game on their own and Harborough will know that. When we get the ball down and play we are a good side, We have gone with a more direct, compact style of play over the past couple of months but its still brought in the results and we all know that if we turn up, we can beat anyone in this division comfortably. Wednesday night will not be easy but neither should it be a fixture we should fear.

Our history in the play-offs is poor. Four times we have taken part in them over the years and not once have we gained promotion. Defeats to Altrincham, Farsley Celtic and Slough Town (twice) will still no doubt be in the mind of many Poppies fans. But in truth those games and in fact this seasons games and form don't really count for anything going into Wednesday. It's a one off, winner takes all type of game, their will be pressure and nerves from both sides. Whoever wins will be the one's that hold their nerves the better.