Spalding go shopping in the 'D'

With a bare eleven, Kettering travelled to the pit of misery known as Spalding to play the home club's third team. At least they have a nice pitch. The KM2s were immediately on the backfoot; like all teams from Spalding, Kettering's opponents loved a crash ball into the 'D' and were very good when on the ball. Sadly, Kettering conceded the first goal - a short-corner that squeezed into the bottom right corner. However, it wasn't all Spalding - Kettering did have some chances, though they were few and far between. Ben Mills was soon yellowed (as expected) and the game gained an undercurrent of unpleasantness. Nothing much else happened in the first half and it ended 1-0.
When the second half began, Kettering did manage to press forward, but some solid defending from Spalding made a Kettering goal look unlikely. Spalding's second goal was another short corner, the top-man slipping the injection to his left and the receiver smashed the ball into the bottom corner. Spalding spent most of the second half grinding down Kettering, though there were some opportunities for Kettering again - Ben Mills' drag-flick being somehow saved on the line in a 'Thorpe-esque' manner and other chances going agonisingly wide. There was a feeling that Kettering might be able to nick something from the game. This feeling was suddenly snatched from Kettering as a young Spalding forward managed to sneak another goal - as good as Archie Colwill is, he couldn't defend three people at once. This sealed Kettering's fate and the game petered out. A 3-0 loss for Kettering.
As the showers at Spalding are currently being built, Kettering sat in the Spalding hall in their sweaty kit and had a delicious tea of hot-dogs. Overall, a very disappointing day.