Evo-Stik Southern Premier preview: Kettering looking for hat-trick of wins

By Matt Badcock
KETTERING TOWN take on Banbury United tonight looking to make it three EVO-STIK South Premier wins on the spin and maintain their lead at the top of the table.
Experienced striker Aaron O’Connor scored twice in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Chesham United to make it seven wins from their opening eight games of the season.
Marcus Law’s side have bounced back from their only defeat of the season – a 3-1 away loss at Weymouth – with four wins in all competitions.
But to extend their run they will have to stop sixth-place Banbury United and their evergreen front man Jefferson Louis.
The well-travelled 38-year-old striker is showing no signs of slowing down with eight goals in eight games this season.
In fact, Louis has scored in every league game so far this season for the division’s top scorers to put himself at the summit of the individual scoring charts alongside Redditch United‘s Dior Angus, who also has eight goals to his name.
Angus scored the only goal in his side’s win against Biggleswade Town on Saturday as they secured a fifth win in six matches to move up to second in the table.
Darren Byfield’s side have the best defensive record in the league having conceded just four goals.
They host the league’s second-highest scorers, and promotion rivals, Slough Town in another mouth-watering midweek encounter. The Rebels slipped to fifth in the table following a 3-1 defeat to St Neots Town.
Third-place King’s Lynn Town host Biggleswade – the Linnets beat Tiverton Town, who now sit fourth, on Saturday will be hoping to bounce back against Merthyr Town this evening. The Welsh side had two Ashley Evans goals to thank for a 2-1 win at home to Royston Town on Saturday.
Royston, who won the Central division title last season are away at St Neots Town. Weymouth host Jekyll & Hyde side Basingstoke Town – they’ve won four and lost five of their first nine games – while Chesham United travel to Stratford Town.
Dunstable Town are searching for their first win of the season at home to Bishop’s Stortford, while beleaguered Gosport Borough, who saw boss Alex Pike leave last week, will attempt to get their first point when they make the trip to struggling Kings Langley.