Men's 3rd XI get a deserved point

Kettering entertained St Ives 5 for their second actual match in the East league. Skipper Neil Manley shuffled his squad from the previous week, with Ray Norwood and James Hogg making their debuts. Peter Wenje and Tim McDowell also returned to bolster the forward line.
The home side started brightly and had the better of the early exchanges. Hogg was a threat down the right wing and Ben York also caused problems for St Ives down the opposite flank.
Despite forcing a number of short corners, Kettering couldn't make the vital breakthrough. Towards the end of the first half, youngster Hogg hit the post with a powerful reverse stick shot.

In the second half, a penalty corner was slightly harshly awarded to St Ives and they took the lead from a fortuitous strike. Subsequently, it was one-way traffic as Kettering pushed to equalise. Tim McDowell went on several mazy runs that bamboozled the visiting defence but still the elusive breakthrough wouldn't come.
Short corners came and went, Tony Heath saw a shot cleared off the line and then Manley was unlucky to see his deflected shot go over the bar.

Not to be denied, Kettering kept persevering and their determination was rewarded with less than a minute to play. Neil Manley picked the ball up on the left hand side and fired in a pass to the far post where James Hogg was waiting to apply a deft finish and get a deserved point for the home side.