Timperley 3-3 Kettering.

If you watch enough hockey you see some good games and some bad games. You also have a memory bank of the few really exciting games. Make room at the top table for a new addition to the really exciting games.
Kettering travelled to Timperley with a bare eleven bit in good spirits. Faced with a team sprinkled with three ex international Kettering knew this would be a difficult afternoon. The hosts were very confident and started by putting Kettering on the backfoot. Having survived the first stanza a piece of sublime skill by Shez Coe , who skinned four players in the D before firing a cross for an unmarked Linzi Webster to rock the vocal home support.1-0 to the visitors. This further inspired Timperley and a quick fire double saw them take the lead. A goal just before half time made the score 3-1.
Captain Shez gave a half time team talk where she expected the team to go down attacking rather than sit back and lose. An inspired second half started with keeper Michele Collins making a really smart save to keep Kettering in it. The fifth goal was always going to be crucial. A hopeful punt forward saw a deft touch in the D by Mandy Starsmore-Young which wrong footed the Timperley keeper. Game on. Timperley's coach was very animated and this transferred to his team who became more indisciplined. A yellow card for deliberately breaking the game down epitomising this. Timperley seemed to run out of ideas and with four minutes to go a retaken short corner saw Kirsty Smith roll the ball to Starsmore-Young who joyfully tied the game. There was still drama as with virtually the final play Smith saw a shot parried and the loose ball fell to Helen Keyworth. "Just miss the goalie Helen" we all cried. She hit the goalie. End of game 3-3.
With keeper Michele getting ready for extra time ( no one told here it went straight to strokes) five Kettering players strolled to get their kit knowing they would not be taking a penalty. The five 'volunteers' received their final instructions from Captain Shez. "choose your side, don't change your mind, hit the target". First stroke Shez duly misses target!!
It's ok - Michele saves theirs.
Mandy scores. 1-0
Michele saves another -still 1-0
Louise misses - still 1-0.
They score 1-1
Chris scores 2-1
They score 2-2
Helen misses 2-2.
Pressure on - their goalie takes the crucial fifth penalty and Michele saves it.
Sudden Death.
Shez ( "I knew I wouldn't miss again") didn't 3-2
Michele saved theirs.

Cue scenes of delirium as the home team can't believe they hadn't won and Kettering couldn't quite believe they had!

Every Kettering player worked like a Trojan the whole game and really worked for each other. Michele was man of the match but it could have been anyone.
A brilliant day.