A match to forget.

Kettering 4's entered the match today hoping to be building upon the encouraging performance that they had last time out at St Neots. Unfortunately St Ives had other ideas and dealt out the worst result of the season do far this season despite having to scratch an 11 players together.
As has been the story so often this season Kettering started quite positively with a few opportunities to put the St Ives defence under pressure. The defense was holding firm against a determined, skillful and youthful forward line. Unfortunately, as the game settled in the attacks became more frequent. Kettering struggled to get the ball out of defense and elementary mistakes crept in. The inevitable happened with a goal going in. This just increased the intensity of the St Ives play with the attacks washing over the Kettering defense. The first half finished 5 - 0.
Stern words were had at half time to try and galvanise the Kettering players to raise their game. Some sparks of defiance were seen with Kettering managing to move the ball around more confidently. The ball even made it into the opposition D. But despite this promise, St Ives just soaked up the pressure and counterattacked with some ease scoring a couple of quickfire goals from open play. Changes in personnel and positions by Kettering did little to change the flow of the game. Another four goals were added by a now rampant team.

Kettering players definitely put in more effort in the second half but on this occasion were outplayed in every department by a stronger team.
A very tough time faces 4's in the coming weeks as they take on the top 3 teams in the league before the league closes for the Christmas break. Starting with the match against Kettering 3's next week.

St Ives version of events here St Ives 4 v Kettering 4