South leave Kettering directionless in 2-3 loss

Finally a home game post-Christmas! There were some familiar faces in the Cambridge side, so Kettering knew that they'd have to put in a wily performance to have any hope of scraping a result.
The game began and it soon descended into a scrappy affair. Balls would be turned over to be instantly given away again; Kettering, however, managed to cope with this frantic play and a fracas in the 'D' ended up with the ball at the end of captain Roddy Payne's stick. Never one to crumble in front of goal, he delicately placed it in the bottom left corner. 1-0! Kettering were shocked, but knew they had to keep their heads. Jack Bridges was making no friends in the match, a dreadful tackle by him provoked a Cambridge player to retaliate with a swipe at the young man's legs. Kettering were quick to jump to their American comrade's defence, asserting that only they were allowed to hit him because they knew what he's truly like and he deserves much worse. Both players should have felt lucky: Bridges escaped punishment and the Cambridge player only received a green. Before long, Kettering had scored a second. Oliver Smith's drive into the 'D' forced a save from the Cambridge keeper; the ball fell back to him and he leathered it at the top corner. Smith was denied his name on the scoresheet though, as George York was stood on the post and poked the ball as it crossed the line - a controversial poach as it puts York on 11 goals this season, leaving Smith on 9, otherwise it would have been 10 apiece... Yet Kettering were not to keep a clean sheet, as Cambridge managed to catch Kettering asleep. 2-1 at the break.
The second half kicked off. The home team had no idea they were about to be ran off the pitch. A Cambridge short-corner fell apart, but they recovered well and managed to bumble the ball over the goal-line in a scuffle. 2-2. Kettering never looked like scoring a third. Play was all Cambridge for the whole of the second half; on the other hand, Kettering's resolute defending was keeping dreams of a point alive. Cambridge's third and final goal came from a short corner awarded as the final whistle blew. They apologised for winning in such a way after the game, but this was of no consolation to the Kettering team, especially Archie Colwill and Adam Mills (who had both played exceptionally for the whole game) who threw their short-corners masks and sticks at the ground after the third goal was conceded in a display of passion that encapsulated the KM2s' desire for a result.
At least Mr and Mrs Mills' teas were exceptional. An away day to Long Sutton next week, another game that needs Kettering to come away with points...