Stevenage midfielder Ben Kennedy confident he can help Newport County reach the League Two play-offs

After beating champions Lincoln City on Saturday, County host Oldham Athletic tonight knowing that a win will take them into the top seven for the first time since December 22.

And another victory on the final day at Morecambe this coming Saturday will guarantee them a play-off spot.

It’s been a remarkable turnaround since Kennedy, a deadline day arrival from fellow promotion hopefuls Stevenage, made his debut in the 3-0 defeat at Grimsby Town on February 2.

That defeat left the Exiles 10 points below seventh-placed Exeter City but an eight-match unbeaten run has seen them move two within touching distance of the Grecians.

And Kennedy is in no doubt that the club’s greatest strength – unity – will see them through as the pressure builds this week.

“It’s going down to the wire but it’s in our hands,” said the versatile midfielder, who played up front alongside top scorer Padraig Amond on Saturday.

“We’ve got the game in hand and it’s up to us to win it now.

“We’ll need the fans to be the 12th man against Oldham. They’ll be massively important, and so will everyone in the squad – including the substitutes.

“We’re all together and we’re going to do this together.

“I’ve only been here a few months, but the togetherness here is second to none.

“It shows on the pitch,” he added. “We’re resilient in our defending and we attack as a team.

“And I could tell from the first time I arrived – getting on the bus to Grimsby – that the lads were all on board with the gaffer and they respected him and Hats [assistant manager Wayne Hatswell] and all the staff around the club.

“The way the club is run, everyone is together as one and there’s a lot of community work helping the people of Newport.

“It’s a great club and a club like this deserves a good break.”

Kennedy will not be happy just to make the top-seven, however. He wants promotion at Wembley.

“When I arrived people were writing us off for the play-offs, but we’re eight unbeaten now,” he said.

“We’re buzzing. To beat Bury and now Lincoln, the top two who have cruised all year, is fantastic.

“And we’ll grind it out and do whatever it takes to get into that seventh spot.

“We want to get into the play-offs and get promoted. If you’re not ambitious, why do you play the game?

“I’m still young, I’m only 22, and I’m ambitious. I want to get to the top of the game, like anyone else.”

Kennedy would love to see County playing in League One next season but he admits his own future is unclear.

His parent club Stevenage are one place above the Exiles in 10th place and could still claim seventh spot themselves.

“They’re doing well, but we’re top of the form table,” he said. “It’s ours to lose.”

Asked if he would like to stay at Rodney Parade, the Northern Ireland under-21 international said: “I’ve got another year at Stevenage.

“They’ve taken up that option so I have to go back there in the summer and we’ll see what happens.

“I’ll never say never, it’s a great club.”

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