So near, yet so far!

Men's 4's hosted Cambridge Nomads 3's this week, with the opposition being at the top of the table, it was going to be the toughest game of the season. An experienced side with some classy players who had just put 15 goals past Wisbech the week before. kettering were also in a rich vein of form and were confident that they could get a result and help the Third team acheive the club ambitions of being the league champions this season.

Nomads won the toss and decided to have push back. They obviously had the game plan to push the Kettering team back and try and score an early goal. They played with a speed, purpose and directness that Kettering hadn't seen so far this season from the other teams they had faced. The defence marshalled by the ever present Nigel Parkes held firm. Wave after wave of attacks came in but the Nomads forwards had little sight of goal. In the period only a couple of speculative shots and crosses came in to threaten the goal. Matt Coe, doubling up in goal for the 4's had little to do except shout at the defence to warn them of potential threats.

Offensively for this period, Kettering were quiet apart from the odd foray forward on the counter attack, when they did better chances were created but the goal wouldn't come.

Twenty minutes in, the Nomads tired and couldn't sustain the intensity of their attacks. Kettering began to get a foothold and get some fluency to their attacks. Good movement off the ball allowed the play to switch from left to right and back again trying to carve out an opportunity. Towards the end of the first half a short corner was won. An opportunity that has proved successful for 4's this season. The result was that after the intial shot was saved by the Nomads defence, the ball was played out to the right of the goal to be collected by Ben Mayes. The goalkeeper went to ground to block the shot but with a calmness and composure usually shown by a more experienced player, Ben lifted the ball over the keeper into the goal.

The half time whistle blew and a surge of confidence went through the Kettering team. Maybe a good result was possible.

A few changes were made at half time, to rotate the squad and give some players a bit more game time. Despite some good play from the kettering side, defensively the structure had been disrupted and Nomads were able to gain some momentum from their skillful midfield. The period of pressure resulted in a short corner being given and scored via a "dribbly" type shot that evaded the best efforts of the keeper and trickled into the Kettering goal.

Despite the dissappointment kettering showed their usual resolve, to keep trying to play a counterattcaking style of hockey despite being hampered by a green card to Ludwig Roder. Excellent long balls from defense saw Lee Paris, Mike Tanser and Finn Smith turn the Nomads defense and only some desperate defence kept the goal from coming. On one of these counter attacks the ball was fired into the D from the right. Hard and fast the ball scythed through the defense, beating the keeper and the ever present Paris turned the ball into the net to restore the lead.

The game entered the final 15 minutes and ebbed to and fro. Both teams trying their best to score another goal. Nomads then levelled the game with a goal scored from another short corner, a soft goal to concede at the crucial point of the game. However, 4's continued onwards to go for the win. Finn was causing more and more problems for the Nomads defence, resulting in him receiving some rough treatment. Firstly a defender brought him down with a trip and then in full flight bearing down on goal, the keeper only managed to bring him down after missing he ball completely. Shouts for some form of penalty from the Kettering players went unheard and nothing was given. Tim Plevin clearly frustrated by the inaction of the Umpire vocalised his views from defense and received a yellow card for his troubles.

Despite being down to 10 men for the final few minutes of the match, Nomads just couldn't manufacture the chance they needed to take the game.

The game was a roller coaster of emotions for the Kettering team, hope to elation to finally dissappintment and frustration. Frustrated that the score line should have been a win. But once the dust had settled, a sense of satisfaction at a job well done and ensuring that the Thirds had a chance to go top of the league for the first time this season.

Next week, 4's travel to the City of Peterborough to face another new team for the season and another opportunity to extend the unbeaten run.