Kettering can’t quite Bury St Edmunds.

Coming back from 3-1 Kettering should have been pleased with a draw but there was a sense of two points lost as a grandstand finale failed to produce a winner and Bury seemed the happier of the two sides.
Playing their first game in East Div 2N Kettering were initially on the back foot but their first excursion into Bury territory saw Lewis Pywell fire past the keeper. In a game played at great pace and two sides with attacking intent it was likely to remain 1-0 and Bury struck back when a scramble in the Kettering circle saw their forward fire the ball into the roof of the net. Bury then took the lead when a very harshly awarded short corner crept inside the post. Kettering driven on by skipper Grant Carlin and coach Andy Sellers still created chances but could not convert. A swift break by Bury saw their winger fire the ball across the Kettering circle eluding all the converging defenders and tapped home by an unmarked forward on the far post. Kettering responded immediately and a short corner from Jacques Lourens was initially saved only for Carlin to hammer home the rebound. Half time gave Kettering a chance to regroup and now having adjusted to life in Div2 they took the game to Bury after the break. Young James Hogg showed admirable determination to fend off a couple of tackles and finding himself in the circle had the wherewithal to slide the ball past the keeper. Kettering had a great chance to take the lead when Dom Cusk unselfishly passed to Pywell who was unable to finish. Kettering controlled play in the second half with the defence well marshalled well by Ross Mathieson and Paul Donnelly. Kettering also had to do without key striker Pat Cawley who suffered a nasty knee injury by a raised ball. Ed Jennings linked well with Mikey Crane to create openings down the right but Kettering couldn’t quite force the victory. Bury had a number of short corners towards the end of the game but Kettering’s rearguard stood firm. In the end a draw was probably about the right result but Kettering can take plenty from the game which showed they can not only compete at this level but will cause teams problems.
Next week sees Kettering travel to early pace setters Dereham.

Read Bury’s brief version of events here http://www.bsehockeyclub.co.uk/teams/188282/match-centre/1-3681761