Kettering sneak past St Neots

Having lost honourably to Peterborough in Tier 2 Round 1 they faced the usual suspects St Neots in Tier 3 Round 1. Kettering started the game strongly and put the visitors under pressure. No goal was forthcoming but eventually a through ball found Mike Tanser who rolled his defender and his clinical finish was to much for the Saints keeper to handle. A short corner saw Saints come back into the match. The rest of the half went by with little action to report.
Knowing they were well in the game Kettering produced some lovely passages of passing, usually instigated by an Iniesta like performance by Tom Sellers, but lacked the final ball. A scramble at a short corner saw a deliberate foot on the line an a yellow card for offending visitor and a coolly taken penalty stroke by Nick Cusk, 2-1. Cusk was on hand again to unleash an unstoppable shot to put Kettering seemingly clear but Saints had other ideas and reduced arrears with a great finish. Don Coleman had a great chance to put the game out of reach but couldn’t quite make contact with Paul Brooker’s cross. As Kettering ran down the clock Geoff Elliott took a yellow for knocking the ball away and with a man advantage St Neots went for it. A short corner was on the verge of going in before Saints centre forward kindly kicked it leaving Kettering to see out the remaining few seconds.

Kettering will be in action now after Christmas in Round 2.