Kettering drop to first defeat

Kettering fell to their first defeat of the season after an insipid first half performance at St Ives. A clash of socks meant the visitors had to bizarrely tape three white stripes round their socks. How long before the East adopt the Midlands "away teams wear white rule"? Kettering looked comfortable in the opening ten minutes but fell behind when a short corner was needlessly conceded and a well executed routine saw Saints go ahead. The lead was double when again, an unnecessarily conceded short saw a decent drag flick go in of defender Neil Freeman's arm. Kettering hit back straight away when a good counter attacking saw Mark Hawkins fire home. Another St Ives goal from a scramble saw the hosts 3-1 up but Kettering looked to have a clear penalty appeal denied.
Knowing the first goal after the break would be crucial Kettering upped their earlier lacklustre tempo. A string of short corners saw skipper Ant Paton bury a goal and Kettering laid siege to St Ives goal. Another string of short with deliberate fouling by the defence saw a stroke given but Grant Carlin stepped up and placed his effort wide. Paton was also denied by an outstanding save by the home keeper.
Three points lost but Kettering will be confident of turning St Ives over at home and stay in the early title race.