Kettering Vintage 1-2 City of Peterborough Vintage

On a day which started with a poignant remembrance of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to ensure peace Kettering and Peterborough decided to renew hostilities in a bad tempered Tier 2 Cup affair.

From the get go Kettering started very brightly in the game but could not snap Peterborough out of their stride. The first half was fairly even but Kettering found their frustration mounting as every time their chances were thwarted by guess who, John Short, the impressive CoP stopper. Kettering were using a risk and reward strategy of playing high up the pitch and this gave space for the CoP midfield and forwards to do their best work. Peterborough did not have a monopoly on possession and Kettering created some good chances, Ludo Roder firing wide and a Paul Brooker having a good chance. Peterborough had a couple of short corners in the first hal but the home defence were equal to them. Nigel Parkes saw a long yellow as the game started to heat up. Kettering competed well with 10 players and the half ended goalless. This fractious, sorry state of affairs continued in the second half as a string of players were temporarily suspended.
Roder broke the deadlock midway through the second half when his initial break saw him dummy the keeper before firing home. As the tension mounted Kettering became more and more pinned back and after a scrabble in the D Peterborough forced an equaliser. Phil Rowbotham tried a pass to connect former defender turned forward Tom Sellers with Brooker but this came to nothing. A short corner was converted by Peterborough to give them the slenderest lead. Kettering tried to mount a recovery operation but all their attempts to score floundered on an experienced Peterborough back line .
Final score 2-1 to City of Peterborough who progress to round 2 while Kettering drop into Tier 3 where they expect to do well.
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