Leaders struggle against Kettering

On the positive side we all got there. Captain Donnelly’s plans were readily discussed on Friday night as being at best adequate leading to frantic in car phone calls about who had the practice balls.
I wonder what away games are like in the Cotswolds (chocolate box villages) or the Lake District (epic scenery)? We wondered how bleak it must be in Lincolnshire in the winter until we realised it was winter and it was bleak. Drizzle interspersed with rain in a flat, grey landscape. So everything was set for a dull, grey game against the Div3NW leaders.
Dean was well prepared with tights (yes really) and incorrect socks and a rubbish number. Nothing particularly unusual there then. The early phase of the game was notable for George doing multiple impressions of Bambi (new shoes for Christmas??) other than that Kettering coped well with Long Sutton’s sometimes long ball approach.
The deadlock was broken when a short corner was dragged in off the inside of the post. Kettering rallied and won a short which was dispatched, via a deflection, by Mark. As the half looked to be heading for a 1-1 finish a scramble saw Long Sutton grab the lead.
A poor start to the second half saw Kettering fall 3-1 behind when a breakaway was eventually finished despite the best efforts of Barry. Long Sutton’s forwards look lively but were well marshalled by Dean and Man of the match Jake. Kettering made the game interesting when a long ball found Mark one on one with the keeper who kindly stepped aside for Mark to bury it dead centre of the goal.
The leaders were being given a run for their money by Kettering but a lack of shots on target, or even shots generally, meant they couldn’t grab an equaliser. To be fair, if anything Long Sutton could have score another but nonetheless a much improved performance from the 5-0 home loss in September.
Regulation potato, beans and cheese afterwards.
The break sees Kettering worryingly near the trap door of 3NW but a big game against Bourne and then Camb City the following week could define the season but Kettering know they can trouble the better teams in the league.

Onwards and upwards