Kettering 3rds 3-1 Towcester 3rds

A lack lustre and slow start from Kettering ladies 3rd team in their penultimate game before the Christmas Break saw a young, fast and skilful Towcester side put the Kettering defence under considerable pressure. Stirling work by Beth Hardy in her usual sweeper position managed to nullify many of these attacks but eventually Kettering conceded a penalty corner. A scrappy clearance put Towcester through on goal and they managed to slot the ball past keeper Laura Beswick who was unsighted and had little chance to make the save.

Towcester looked to be in total control of the first half and Kettering had to dig deep to prevent further goals being scored. Gradually the team picked up the pace however and hard work from Sandra Mandziuk and Natalie Irons in mid-field saw the ball pushed through to Ellie Peachment whose weaving run through the solid Towcester defence saw her open the scoring for Kettering with just seconds left in the first half.

This spurred Kettering on and after a positive team talk at ½ time Kettering entered the second period with renewed vigour. With Laura Newlyn, Julia Telford and Beth Hardy holding firm at the back the mid-field players began to stretch the Towcester side. Tireless work from Ellie Peachment, Natalie Irons and Imogen Smith in mid-field created openings and Kettering eventually began to find the form they have shown in previous games and at last started to dominate the game.

Mid-field player Sandra Mandziuk who had been supporting the forwards superbly throughout the match was the first to latch on to a poor clearance from the Towcester defence following superb build up play through Elana Freedman and Natalie Irons and her reverse shot effort deservedly found the back of the net.

With a 2 goal to 1 cushion Kettering relaxed and slick passing down the right by youngsters Imogen Smith and Katie Woolveridge left the Towcester defence stranded. Crosses into the “D” from Woolveridge created numerous chances and Kettering were only denied by great goal keeping from the Towcester keeper Sue Christopher.

Sam Bedford who had worked hard throughout the game had a good effort on goal which unfortunately went wide but her efforts and those of Ellie Peachment and Elana Freedman kept pressure on the Towcester defence. Towcester managed a few forays into the Kettering half but these were neutralised by a solid defence. Defenders pushed up and moved the ball on to the hard working mid field and forwards and clever passing around the defenders (taken straight from recent training sessions) paid dividends when Elana Freedman was duly rewarded for all her efforts throughout the game with goal number 3.