Kettering 2's 2 - 0 Wisbech 3's

Kettering entertained a Wisbech team who after a shaky start to the season have had a resurgence of late. Wisbech had also managed some strong results against teams that have troubled Kettering this season, so Kettering knew to expect a tough game.

Just before the push back, both sides held a 1 minute silence at the request of Wisbech, so that they could mark their respect to colleague and true 'club man' who has unfortunately passed away very recently.

After this, the game started. Kettering, missing a couple of key players that would fill the forward roles, and having had to draft in Richard Lashbrooke to help out, fielded a very midfield heavy starting line-up, with only one true forward on the pitch. This however, wasn't cause for concern and Kettering almost immediately were playing some of the trademark passing and moving hockey that has seen them at the top of the league table for the majority of the first half of the season. Wisbech were also on good form, and their own play was also proving successful at times, resulting in a very end to end affair, with defences and goalkeepers being asked a lot of questions (all of which were forcefully answered).

Kettering did have the better of the chances, and a very simple but effective long corner routine could (and perhaps should) have seen the opening goal, as Adam Duell received short pass across the 25, crashed the ball straight through the top of the 'D' where George York and Simon Evans were both waiting just outside the left post. The latter of these did get a touch, but could only deflect the ball agonisingly wide.

Simon did break the deadlock, however, shortly after this, after some more good play by Kettering. He then doubled his tally, and the Kettering lead, when a short corner routine saw the ball sent to him on the short side. His initial shot was fairly tame but the Wisbech goalkeepers deflection was sent straight back to him, and his follow up shot was buried into the roof of the goal.

2-0 at half time, and Kettering looked good for the win, though Wisbech had had their chances, and but for some great goalkeeping, and a man of the match performance by Jake Coleman, they may have found themselves with goals on the board themselves at half time.

The second half saw much of the same, end to end play, with Kettering probably having the better of the play. There were chances at both ends again, with Wisbech seeing a couple of short corner routines saved or blocked by the Kettering runners. Kettering had a gilt edged chance to wrap things up when an attempted cross by Jason Clarke was half blocked by the Wisbech defence, only for the ball to fall to George York who unselfishly slipped the ball passed the rushing goalkeeper to Matt Hill, who just couldn't control the ball well enough to give himself the easiest of tap-ins.

The game finished 2-0, and Kettering will look to start the second half of the season the same way they started the first, when March come to town.