League Champions!!!

In the end this result didn't matter. Wellingborough lost away at Spalding, meaning only a minor miracle would have prevented Kettering winning the league due to their superior goal difference to Spalding and Wisbech...

But Kettering didn't know this at the start of the game, and only had one thing on their mind. Winning the league outright, by getting the point they needed. Just like last week, Kettering started strongly and were looking far the better team. A couple of fantastic balls cutting straight through the St Ives midfield to Ollie Smith saw the ball across the 'D'. Both times just out of the reach of the club top goal scorer George York. However, again much like last week, Kettering seemed to just stop playing their normal patterns, and St Ives started to see more of the ball, and started to look threatening themselves.

Suddenly, Kettering were the team struggling. The high press just not working, and St Ives finding too much space through the middle of the pitch. A straight ball that could have been left to roll off the baseline was mistrapped by a Kettering defender. It flew straight to the St Ives forward who dispathched it. More and more the Kettering defenece were being pressured, and making mistakes (almost unheard of this seeason!). This lead to a 2nd goal for St Ives when a strecthing attempt to intercept the ball by a midfield resulted in another deflection, this time taking the ball away from the defenders, but again straight to the St Ives forward who doubled their lead.

In at half time 2-0 down, it was clear Kettering needed to just calm down a little, but also they needed to make some changes to their play. The high press was abandoned, and the midfield had to tighten the middle up... Into the second half and Kettering were more composed, and starting to get into the game when St Ives managed to score thier third goal. They must have thought the game was theirs at this point, but Kettering, some 50 minutes later than they would have liked, finally started playing their own brand of hockey. The passing picked up the pace, and was finding players moving at pace into space. Suddently St Ives were the team under pressure and making mistakes. Their defence, unsure what to do when Ketterings forwards didn't press them, struggled to get the ball clear, and then it clicked. Some great play in the St Ives 25, and some quick free hits taken lead to Ben York in the 'd', one on one with the goalkeeper, and he duly slotted home (just about). 3-1 and Kettering tails were very much up...

And off they went again, pushing and pushing, and again some great play lead to another goal, this time the other York brother, George York the man at the end. 3-2... was there time?? Kettering kept pushing, and kept finding chances. A number of short corners came and went, but Kettering knew it was coming.. The decision was made to drop the goalkeeper, and bring on a kicking back, but the next dead ball situation was another short corner to Kettering... No substitutions allowed, and a short pause in play whilst the St Ives dependers had their say on the matter to the umpire, and the Kettering 'keeper Matt Coe making his way back to his area. After the interruption, back to the point in hand, get the short corner right!! A slower injection led to the St Ives defence having a little more time to get out. The attempted slip right failed, and a St Ives stick sent the ball across the 'd'. In a compete reversal o the first half, the misplaced ball by the St Ives defender this time fell to the Kettering forward Sam Deprisco, who calmly pushed the ball through a number of St Ives sticks into the goal. Cue jubilation and wild cheering from Kettering who knew this was their moment. However, there was still a little time left, so they had to compose themselves for one more time. As it happened, there was only 20 seconds left, which was seen out with ease. Had there been a few mintes more, Kettering would feel they had more goals in them!

It was only a point. A draw. A very hard fought draw. But it was the manor that it was earned, and what it means for the league that matters. And so the celebrations can finally begin.

In what turned out to be the best day for Kettering Hockey club for some time, if not the best day ever... Kettering Ladies 2s also managed to win their league, and Kettering Mens 1's secured promotion, and will play an evening game under the lights for their chance to also win their league!!