Mens 1st XI v Newark

Depleted by suspension and injury Kettering travelled to free scoring Newark expecting a tough game. With a bare 11 set up in a 4-5-1 formation Kettering set out to preserve their goal and try to score on the counter. The game followed exactly as Kettering predicted as Newark enjoyed plenty of possession and territory with having a real cutting edge. On a rare excursion into Newark territory just before half time Kettering overcommitted for the first time and were caught with a speedy counter attack goal. Newark threw Kettering a life line on the stroke of half time when a deliberate back stick in the D was upgraded from a short corner to a penalty stroke and yellow card. Kettering were delighted with 1-1 at half time as Scott Mulligan converted the stroke. The second half followed a similar pattern but very much against the run of play Kettering took the lead through Jason Clarke following a good move. The lead was short lived as an uncharacteristic mistake by keeper Barry Coe gifted Newark an equaliser. The winner came in controversial fashion as a ball was struck high into the D through a crowd of players but was not deemed dangerous and a Newark forward batted it home. Mulligan saw yellow in the resulting discussion and Kettering's back line were given a stern lecture for debating the rules among themselves. Newark played out time for a win but Kettering can take plenty of positives from a real battling display. They have a week off before facing Atherstone Adders.

Read their version here http://www.newarkhockeyclub.com/matchreport.aspx?fixtureid=2