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By Max Benson
City will cast their minds back to earlier this season for inspiration as they travel to play-off rivals Kettering this Saturday (kick off 3pm).
A comprehensive 2-0 victory over the then second-placed Poppies at Bootham Crescent in September gave real impetus to a campaign that has since seen the Minstermen emerge as genuine promotion contenders.
An improbable run of nine Blue Square Premier wins in a row, a new club record, came to an end after three months last Tuesday as Martin Foyle’s men returned from a difficult trip to Histon with a point after a 1-1 draw.
Just like City’s midweek opponents, Kettering have lost a chairman and a manager recently.
Much-coveted boss Mark Cooper left the Poppies for Championship side Peterborough in November only to be sacked by the London Road side just two months later.
Imraan Ladak also stepped aside from his boardroom role last month, five years after heading the consortium that took control of the Northamptonshire club.
Veteran ‘keeper Lee Harper was appointed to the manager’s position and has just about kept the Poppies in the play-off mix despite a patchy run of form.
His side still occupy the final play-off spot but have lost five of Harper’s nine league games in charge whilst recording wins against Luton, Ebbsfleet and Gateshead.
A play-off position could be no more than a dream for Kettering, though, regardless of their final position in April.
The tenancy on their Rockingham Road ground is coming to an end, leaving the Poppies ineligible for promotion to the Football League unless there is remarkably swift progress behind the scenes.
The FA Cup has, however, provided a brief distraction from the off-field upheaval as the Poppies took League One side Leeds United to a second round replay at Elland Road before slipping to an extra time defeat.
Team News
York City
Free-scoring striker Richard Brodie makes a welcome return following his two match ban and will look to dislodge Michael Gash or Michael Rankine in the starting XI.
Despite injuring himself in a challenge early on in Tuesday night's stalemate, Michael Ingham completed the full 90 minutes and should be fit to start between the sticks in Northamptonshire.
Ben Purkiss, who netted his first goal of the season in the week, could continue on the right side of midfield but will be pushed for a place out wide by Alex Lawless, Kevin Gall and Adam Smith.
Kettering Town
Midfielder Andre Boucaud has recovered sufficiently from a broken nose to be considered for selection only a fortnight after he was involved in a serious clash of heads in the game against Stevenage Borough.
Former Paris St Germain and Berkhamsted Town striker Jean-Paul Marna could be struggling, though, after picking up a knock in Tuesday’s 0-2 defeat to Corby Town in a local cup tie.
Experienced duo Ian Roper (32) and Darren Wrack (33) look set to bolster the spine of the Poppies’ team at centre back and centre midfield respectively.
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