Kettering Manager Lavery Views FA Cup Exit as a Catalyst for Strength

Kettering Town’s manager, Richard Lavery, has asserted that the team’s exit from the FA Cup in the second round, following a loss to Doncaster Rovers, will ultimately fortify them as they pursue promotion during the current season. Lavery took over as manager in February, succeeding Jim Le Masurier. The Poppies ultimately fell 2-1 to League Two club Doncaster Rovers in extra-time, despite Isiah Noel-Williams initially putting them ahead at Latimer Park. Their attention will now shift to the Southern League Premier Central, where they currently hold a three-point lead at the top of the standings. “I’m gutted but so proud of every single one of the players. My last words were ‘leave everything out there and have no regrets’ and they did that,” Lavery stated to BBC Radio Northampton. He added, “(We’ve played) Two league sides, we beat one and took these to the wire, that is a credit to the club and how far we’ve come inside six months.” A crowd of 2,803 witnessed Doncaster’s veteran striker Billy Sharp score two goals, which ultimately secured the victory over Kettering. This double by Sharp propelled Doncaster into the FA Cup third round. Kettering is now scheduled to face Banbury United on Saturday in their upcoming fixture. Lavery, who served as assistant to Marcus Law when Kettering last achieved promotion to National League North in 2019, further stated, “This’ll make us stronger as a unit, we’ve got a big squad. I want to win the league and I think we can do it.” He continued, “I want to go further, whether it’s Conference North, the National League, whether it’s League Two, I want to take it far. “I think we can do it, with the fanbase we’ve got here, everything around the club, the new owners – and this cup run has done us a massive favour financially.” After securing £45,000 for eliminating county rivals Northampton Town in the first round, Kettering is set to receive an additional £20,000 for their performance in the second round. However, the club could have gained £75,000 had they defeated Grant McCann’s Rovers. Owner George Akhtar expressed regret that replays are no longer part of the competition, but indicated that the club would now assess the optimal way to utilize the funds to enhance its infrastructure. “I know why they did it [scrapped replays], it is unfair but we all know this before kick-off,” he informed BBC Radio Northampton. He continued, “Of course we’d have loved to go to Doncaster and I’m sure Harborough would have loved to have brought Reading back to Harborough. It’s a difficult one but I understand why they did it.” Akhtar, who assumed ownership of the club in May, stated that participation in the FA Cup’s main draw ought to be “standard” for the club, which possesses “massive aspirations.” He further remarked, “Since the draw (for round two), it’s been relentless, that’s an understatement, it’s been a whirlwind, 150 miles per hour every single day just to get the game on at Latimer Park.” Akhtar concluded, “It’s been an unbelievable effort. The four-week build-up has been unreal but it’s been an eye opener for everyone as well, just to see what it takes.”