“Going to Dereham?” Take Route 1.

Much is made in football about Pep Guardiola’s tika taka, the “beautiful game” of Brazil 1970 and the forward thinking dreamers in the 1950s Danube coffee houses that brought us the Magnificent Magyars. But for every flowing move that pleases the eye there is always the more direct approach. Charles Hughes and Charles Reep, the architects of the long ball game in English Football that flourished back in the day, and more recently with England under Graham Taylor or Bobby Gould’s Wimbledon circa Vinnie Jones et al have a cross sport shrine in the Fens.
Kettering travelled optimistically after last week’s exciting draw but some travel issues meant a delayed warm up and late arrival of a couple of players. Initially this seemed to have minimal impact as coach Andy Sellers fired home from close range in the second minute. Can you score too early in a game? Probably. Within a minute Dereham’s long ball exponents created an overload that was to be the afternoon’s theme to tie the score. A controversially awarded short corner gave Dereham the lead after eight minutes. Boom, another long ball, another two on one makes it 3-1. Skipper Grant Carlin gave Kettering hope to leave the half time score 3-2. Pat Cawley having a half chance but hit the keeper.
The second half again saw Kettering play the more attractive hockey but for no reward. An short corner was conceded that really should have been dealt with and another long ball created enough space for a forward to fire home. Dom Cusk and Ollie Smith both good chances to put goals on the board but it was one of them days. Kettering competed but perhaps need to be a little more street wise at this level. One to draw a line under and move on to next week’s game at Peterborough. Dereham visit Kettering in January and it will be a measure of how Kettering have adapted to life in 2N to see how they get on.