Kettering leave Nomads with nowhere to go.

Kettering laid down a marker to the rest of Div 2N with a well deserved narrow win over previously unbeaten league leaders Cambridge Nomads.
The earlier rain had speeded up the pitch and this aided both sides as the played the ball around comfortably. Nomads probing down their right flank effectively whilst Kettering used the full width of the pitch. It was the hosts who broke the deadlock when a short corner was blocked on the line by a defender. After a brief conversation the umpires decided the ball was going in and awarded a penalty stroke. Pat Cawley fired home the stroke as the keeper could only parry the ball into the roof of the net. With chances at both ends Kettering extended their lead when Ant Paton made up for an earlier miss when cheeky reverse stick shot sneaked in the near post. This stung Nomads into action and a period of concerted pressure saw them half the deficit before half time with a very neat finish at speed at the far post.
Kettering struggled to get a foothold in the second half and Nomads kept turning the screw. Kettering’s defence was at full stretch but in control but a short corner led to the ball hitting Paul Donnelly on the chest. After another discussion the umpires thought this was also going in and awarded another stroke. Keeper Barry Coe was unable to get near the stroke and the game was 2-2. Chances still came and went with Grant Carlin and Andy Sellers pulling the strings for Kettering. The returning Lewis Pywell also getting his touch back along with youngsters James Hogg and the every improving Wallace Cairns. Both teams pushed hard for a winner but Kettering held firm with Ed Jennings sealing a man of the match performance at right back. With eight minutes to go Kettering launched a counter attack. The initial shot was block but with the keeper out of position skipper Carlin fired the ball high into the goal. Nomads were in no mood to relinquish their undefeated record and Coe did well to keep out a Nomads drag flick as the pressure mounted. Kettering managed to wrestle control of the final few minutes despite going down to ten men when Sellers was green carded.
Next week Kettering travel to Bourne Deeping hoping to maintain their rise up the table.