KETTERING Town appeared out of the race for the Vanarama National League North play-offs only a couple of weeks ago but back-to-back wins have put their push back on track.

Kettering host York City tomorrow night (7.45pm) with the knowledge that a victory, combined with other results going in their favour, would see them most level with seventh-placed Southport on 50 points. A home win would also put them a point behind York, in sixth.

Such a prospect looked extremely unlikely only last month as Kettering drew with relegation-battling AFC Telford United before suffering three straight defeats, losing to Boston United, Spennymoor Town and Chester, the latter coming via a 4-0 scoreline.

Since then though, Town have managed a draw with fellow play-off contenders Hereford and recorded two crucial victories over Chorley and Southport, both of whom currently sit inside the top seven.

That those a pair of wins for Kettering can place them so close to the play-offs is a further reflection of just how close the race for a top seven finish is.

At present, only four points separate sixth-placed York and Spennymoor down in 12th.

York head to Latimer Park for the second time this season, having previously seen the proposed clash in mid-February postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

While it would unfair to describe the Northamptonshire ground as a fortress for Kettering, given they have only the 14th-best home record in the division, it is clearly not an easy place to visit.

Only 18 away goals have been scored at Latimer Park from 16 league matches this season and Kettering have lost just four times there in the league in 2021/22.

Having displayed free-flowing attacking football at Bromley, York may need to show plenty of heart and grit in a likely much-different affair in North Northamptonshire.