Convincing win for Mens 3rd XI

Kettering Men's 3rd XI started their 2018-19 campaign with a comprehensive victory away to local rivals Northampton Saints 6. Kettering had the better of the early exchanges with Andy Bull going close to opening the scoring. It was a new look for the visitors' defence with Gary Thorpe making his debut for the club and initially the home side threatened to exploit the hesitancy in the Kettering defence. However, the pressure was short-lived and it was Kettering who made the breakthrough. Geoff Elliott showed his 3D skills with a delicate lifted pass into the circle for Bull, who powerfully despatched his shot into the corner of the goal.
Not long afterwards, he completed his brace. Jacob Tattersall was quick to pounce on a loose ball in the centre of the pitch and spread the ball out wide to Tom Storey. The youngster's pinpoint cross found Bull in the D and he made no mistake. As the half went on, Kettering got more and more cohesive and started to play the passing hockey that was their trademark from last season. A series of penalty corners were awarded but Kettering couldn't capitalise, so at half-time the score remained 2-0.

After the break, the hosts struggled to break the stranglehold that Kettering had on the match. Storey, putting in a man-of-the-match performance, was a constant threat down the right and he re-established his partnership with veteran winger Paul Brooker. On the opposite wing, Thorpe made several surging runs and inter-linked well with Josh Cox. Youngster Storey was the supplier again for Kettering's third goal. His cross found Cox unmarked at the back post and he finished with aplomb.
Bull tried hard to complete his hat-trick but was frustrated by a great display by the young Saints goalkeeper. He did particularly well to keep out a powerful reverse-stick shot that seemed destined for the bottom corner. The rest of the Kettering team tried to add to the goal tally but a mixture of profligacy and good goalkeeping kept the score unchanged. Kettering went through their full repertoire of penalty corners but chances couldn't be converted by Tom Ward, Brooker or young forward Dan Carter.
Finally, the fourth goal arrived, courtesy of a precise finish from Brooker. The winger seized upon a loose ball and squeezed his shot under the keeper and into the goal. Towards the end of the match, Elliott was set up by a pullback from skipper Neil Manley but he pulled his shot wide and the score finished 4-0.
Next week Kettering have a pre-season friendly against Melton 3rds.