Kettering 7-1 Long Sutton

It had been on the cards really. Shooting practice at training had been very good and only a lack of killer instinct in the D had meant Kettering were failing to get the results their general play had deserved. Long Sutton felt the full force in a particularly dominant second half.
The unusual climactic conditions, high temperatures and blowing a gale posed Kettering problems early on as the slow, sticky pitch made passing difficult. Long Sutton took the lead when slack marking gave a forward an easy tap in. Kettering huffed and puffed but couldn’t get anything going forward until Andy Sellers was on the spot to level the scores. Youngster Wallace Cairns had a good opportunity to give Kettering the lead but his flick at goal went agonisingly wide. The usually clinical Jacques Lourens also managed to miss when,from two feet or nearer, it was easier to score. With Kettering now in the ascendancy Sellers was on hand to finish from close range. With the half time water bottles at a wedding with skipper Grant Carlin only Pat Cawley benefitted from half time hydration provided by Sarah. The second half, with the wind at their backs, Kettering laid siege to Long Sutton’s goal. The benefit of 14 player squad against the 12 from the visitors became apparent as the visitors noticeably tired in the face of relentless pressure. Luke Linford bagged a brace and Sellers went on to complete a hat trick leaving 14yr old James Hogg to grab a goal and 16yr old Dom Cusk to seal the coup de grâce. Long Sutton had a few half chances and keeper Barry Coe was forced into a triple save to keep the visitors to one. Paul Donnelly received an unusual green card as he was deemed guilty of retaliation after a Long Sutton forward tripped over Ross Mathieson and into him. Kettering relieved pressure regularly with Will Banfield 7 yard aerials.
Kettering have now moved to a mid table position and are looking to kick on with a visit to Kings Lynn next week to play Pelicans. Skipper Carlin will return but Lewis Pywell is still unavailable following an injury lay off.

Long Sutton’s version of events is here:- http://www.longsuttonhockey.co.uk/reports/mens-1st/2018-19/1724