Leiston head to Northamptonshire this weekend to face a top-of-the-table Kettering Town side who have yet to taste defeat, having have won all six matches so far this season, writes Craig Cooper.

But despite the tough test, boss Glenn Driver insists his Blues, who sit in third place in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier League table, are confident heading into the match.

“Kettering are going to be a tough side, they are one of the favourites for the league,” Driver said. “We go there confident. There is so much from my side to come. Once we cut out the individual mistakes we should get back to where we want to be.

Our supporters have a right to be disappointed with some of our performances, but one defeat in nine games shows the quality we have in our side.

“The days have gone from Leiston turning up and winning 6-0 in the Eastern Counties League, we are at Step 3 level now not Step 6, and there are some big clubs at this level and sides don’t lay down and die at this standard.”

On Tuesday evening, Leiston defeated Cheshunt in their FA Cup First Qualifying Round replay and pocketed £6,000 in the process. They face Hastings United in the Second Qualifying Round a week tomorrow.

“The FA Cup win was important and we look forward to another home tie, against another side doing well,” Driver said. The Blues next play a home league fixture two weeks tomorrow on Saturday September 29, when Barwell visit.

Kettering famously appointed Paul Gascoigne as manager in October 2005, but the former England and Spurs player lasted just 39 days in charge. They have reached the Fourth Round of the FA Cup twice, in 1989 and 2009, and have lost in the FA Trophy final on two occasions in 1979 and 2000, while they won the Conference North title in the 2006-2007 season.

The Reserves host Norwich CBS this afternoon in the Thurlow Nunn First Division North, trying to win their first match at Victory Road this season.

They currently sit second from bottom, while Norwich CBS are 7th out of 19 teams in the league table. Next week’s game at King’s Lynn Reserves has been called off as King’s Lynn’s first team are in home action in the FA Cup.