Kettering 1-2 Long Sutton

A long trip to Fenland found Kettering in Long Sutton. The church in Long Sutton has Europe’s highest wooden spire but Kettering were not inspired to gain their first victory of the new year.
Starting strongly a young Kettering team took the game to the slightly older hosts but the first chance came to Long Sutton when a deflected shot clipped the crossbar. Undaunted Kettering kept going forward and were rewarded when Dom Cusk finished coolly from close range. This fired the hosts, fresh from beating leaders Bury last week, and they were equalised with an unstoppable reverse stick shot into the top corner. This led to a fifteen minute siege of the Kettering goal but good approach play was let down by a poor final ball and the half finished 1-1.
The second half saw Kettering again trying to dominate possession but they were unable to get any clear cut chances away. Keeper Barry Coe was called on twice to make diving saves one on one outside the D as Kettering’s high press saw Long Sutton counter.
It was however from what Kettering thought should have been a defensive hit that Long Sutton scored what proved to be the decisive goal. Quick reaction to the non whistle and a ball fired into the D off the ground saw the Long Sutton centre forward vollley home from six yards giving Coe no chance.
A disappointing result where perhaps a draw would have been fair sees Kettering drop to 9th in the table but well clear of the dreaded drop.
Next week sees the visit of Pelicans who won the earlier fixture 5-1.