Kettering forced to settle for a draw.

A game against a stoic Dereham side is a difficult one to call. A game that could have been settled by the hosts before half time saw them probably hang on for a point and then spend time in the bar debating where it went wrong. This has been a bit of a theme this season but a small dose of perspective and reflection will show that problems this season are not quite like the disasters of seasons past. It’s perhaps the expectations that have changed.
Dereham arrived with an experienced side and seemed to look to be happy with a point. Kettering put the visitors under early pressure and Dereham resorted to aerials to relieve pressure. Kettering were comfortable with this and started to create chances. Dereham fell foul of some good umpiring when deliberate feet breaking down play led to two yellow cards. Kettering opened the scoring when Pat Cawley coolly lofted the ball over the keeper. Kettering had a good shout for a penalty turned down when James Hogg was seemingly stick tackled in front of goal. Skipper Grant Carlin had a good opportunity from a short corner but fired wide. Wallace Cairns and Lewis Pywell also had decent chances but couldn’t convert. These misses eventually proved costly.
The second half saw Dereham shore up their midfield and resort to less of a long ball approach. It was however from a long ball that they equalised. Kettering had committed players forward but turned over possession. A missed interception led to a two v one which was converted. Dereham had a good penalty appeal turned down but the game fizzled out to a draw but with three other games being stalemate nothing was really gained or lost.
Next week Kettering entertain Peterborough 3rds hoping to make amends for a 2-1 reverse in the previous fixture.