Kettering 0-2 Saints 2

KETTERING LADIES 3RD TEAM v NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 2nd TEAM
Saturday 6th October 2018

This was without doubt going to be a testing game for the whole squad and every single member of the team rose to the occasion.

Saints having played in Midlands last season opened strongly but superb marking and strong defending from the Kettering back four thwarted all attempts by the opposition to get a shot away on goal. An excellent display of close defending from Charlotte Cattel on the left gave the Saints winger little chance to cross the ball to her advancing forwards and Ellie Mulligan was equally strong having adapted extremely well to playing on the right.

A fairly equal midfield battle ensued with Simran Kaur, Lucie Freeman and
Megan Newlyn working tirelessly to win possession in midfield and supply their forwards with the ball. Claire Jones made numerous powerful runs into the opposing “D” and has, without doubt, cemented her brand new “up-front” position on the pitch. Equally powerful and skilful runs by Liz Metcalfe caused the opposition all kinds of problems and, with the fast running support from Ola and Natalia Bednarczyk, Saints were put under tremendous pressure. The Saints keeper was called into action and had to defend a penalty corner - Kettering were very unlucky not to score.

Saints were a well drilled team and managed to weave their way towards the Kettering “23” and Kate Randle was called into action to stem the flow on more than one occasion. Very little found its way past her and her distribution was excellent to set up Julia Telford and the midfield. The game constantly switched from one end to the other with both teams looking for the break through. As the game progressed Kate Metcalfe in goal was increasingly involved in the action and pulled off many outstanding saves to keep Kettering in contention. One memorable save was made when she just managed to tip one goal bound shot away with the outstretched stick. This extraordinary skill was matched by Ellie Mulligan who also cleared an almost certain goal from the line.

Kettering were pleased to go into the break with a 0 – 0 result and another positive half time team talk helped to spur the team on, on a particularly cold and wet day

The second half was a re-play of the first as the game switched constantly from one end of the pitch to the other and Simran Kaur and Lydia McCarrick showed great determination and skill as they attempted to break down the Saints defence. Tireless running paid dividends as they made inroads into the Saints half and they were supported by fast and skilful running up front by Ola Bednarczyk. With the centre controlled by Lucie Freeman and
Julia Telford and the ever-reliable defence it seemed as though the team would earn a well-deserved draw.

Kettering were definitely in the game and Saints had to fight hard to win the ball back but with only ten minutes left on the clock the Kettering side tired and Saints held possession for longer periods of time. Kate Randle cleared one ball from the line after it squeezed its way past Kate Metcalfe’s outstretched foot but neither was able to save the shot that crossed the line moments later. Kettering threw everything into attack but were caught on the break and Saints put the game out of reach with a second goal.
Despite the result another very positive performance from the Kettering 3rd’s who have much to be proud of in a game that was a fine advert for Ladies hockey in Northants being played in an excellent spirit between two sporting teams.

TEAM
Kate Metcalfe Charlotte Cattel Ellie Mulligan Julia Telford Lucie Freeman Megan Newlyn Liz Metcalfe Ola Bednarczyk Natalia Bednarczyk Kate Randle Claire Jones Lydia McCarrick Simran Kaur