Mansfield Beat Kettering

Kettering 2s travelled with 11 players this week, a full team for a tough test against Mansfield. They started buoyantly pushing Mansfield back, keeping them at bay repeatedly, and threatening themselves with young striker, Jack Bridges running riot upfront. The first shortcorner however fell to Mansfield after 10 minutes, a well struck short saved on the post by captain Nick Cusk. Unfortunately when Mansfield got their second shortcorner five minutes later they changed the strategy, passing through back to the injector who was able to slide the ball in to the corner.
Although Kettering pushed for an equaliser they once more gave away another shortcorner after 10 minutes which was converted on the opposite side of the goal. A final shortcorner near the end of the half was struck well wide. A good half however had been marred by the repetitive whinging by the home team, constantly calling for decisions and complaining about every tackle.

The second half started pretty much as the first had with Kettering once more pressing and threatening the Mansfield D. Unfortunately it was once again a shortcorner for Mansfield that proved their undoing, resulting in another quite well worked goal. Kettering fought back and eventually were rewarded when Tom Ward managed to force a short corner for them. This was then easily converted by captain Nick Cusk with a smooth strike into the corner.

Kettering continued to press as Mansfield started to wobble. Club top scorer Dominik Cusk went close with a one-on-one with the Mansfield goalkeeper. Then even closer when on getting on the end of a great pass through into the D. Unfortunately it was not to be as Mansfield managed to sneak a fourth goal to relieve the pressure that had been building. Final score 4-1 to the constantly grumbling Mansfield.