Kettering go top!

Two years ago Kettering drew 1-1 with Mansfield on the way to finishing bottom of East Mids 1. What a difference a couple of years makes! The development of young players is bearing fruit, quality players are being attracted and we are now top of East 3NW, a significantly higher level than the old East league.
Kettering were expecting a really tough game against mid table St Neots but fairly blew them away in a first half that saw the hosts dominate in every department. Kettering’s superior pace in midfield saw them tear into Saints and they had a number of good chances before Lewis Pywell fired in an unstoppable reverse stick shot. This should have been the cue to up the scoring but an uncharacteristic error by keeper Barry Coe saw a fairly innocuous shot sneak in the near post via his pad. In the past this would have crippled Kettering with doubt but it now galvanised them and for ten minutes they tore into St Neots scoring goals through Grant Carlin, Jack Bridges, with a diving finish after an initial shot struck the post, and Pywell again to see the hosts reach half time 4-1 ahead. Saints seemed more intend on discussing decisions and breaking play down and were reduced to ten, and then nine, men during the onslaught.
A new formation aiming to encourage more attacking gave Kettering the platform to attack at will. Their dynamic approach paid of when centre forward turned centre back Pat Cawley converted a penalty stroke after Ollie Smith was illegally tackled in front of goal.
On a rare foray forward Saints pulled a goal back through a breakdown short corner but Kettering were not finished and Andy Sellers eventually converted one of Kettering’s many short corners.
Carlin was unlucky not to gain a further penalty stroke when he was unceremoniously dumped by the goalkeeper having already lobbed him and consequently being unable to reach the falling ball.
Although the second half didn’t produce the number of goals their attacking deserved Kettering were well pleased with a job well done against a potentially tricky opposition.
A defeat for Camb City 4s meant Kettering moved to the top of the table after 6 games and next week face a clash with joint leaders March.
Kettering will welcome back Ross Mathieson and Richard Lashbrooke but Ben Mills misses out due to work commitments.

St Neots version - don't get excited, it's literally just the score!!