Run of wins comes to an end

Kettering Men's 3rd XI saw their run of league wins come to an end when they succumbed to a 5-0 reverse at Cambridge South 4. Defensive frailties and squandered chances up front combined to give the scoreline a lopsided appearance.

Skipper Neil Manley retained the same attacking formation as the previous week but with hindsight that proved to be too ambitious against a strong Cambridge team.

Tim McDowell played "in the hole" behind Callum Hennell and Harry Tanser but Kettering couldn't take advantage of his enigmatic skills. At the other end, Cambridge South played their centre-forward in an old-fashioned poacher's role. After ten minutes he opened the scoring when he deflected home from close range. Five minutes later, Kettering paid the price for not learning their lesson and he doubled his tally with another short-range effort.

Tanser and Hennell looked dangerous when they got on the ball and the home defence frequently had to resort to fouling them. During the course of the half, they earned a series of short corners but unfortunately Kettering couldn't take advantage. Tony Heath had a couple of shots saved by the impressive Cambridge South goalkeeper and Manley saw a deflected effort just miss the post.

Cambridge South continued to probe for weaknesses in the Kettering defence and their centre-forward completed his hat-trick with a reverse stick shot that went in at the near post of goalkeeper Gareth Tasker. Shortly before half-time, Tasker was harshly adjudged to have played the man before the ball and conceded a penalty flick that was expertly despatched.

In the second half, Kettering tightened up their formation and put considerable pressure on the home keeper. Jacob Tattersall forced a good save with a volleyed effort, Tanser fired a couple of shots just past the post and Heath launched numerous attacks down the right wing.

Cambridge South were forced to intervene with crude challenges that on another day might have seen cards produced. As it was, more short corners came and went. Manley went close again but Kettering couldn't find the elusive breakthrough.

With ten minutes to go, the home side took advantage of another defensive lapse and a cross into the circle was calmly converted. To their credit, Kettering didn't give up and there was still time for Justin Smith to stride forward from midfield and strike an effort agonisingly wide of the post.

Statistically, this was a pretty even game, but based on the most important metric, Kettering will have learned a valuable lesson.

In two weeks time, Kettering resume their league campaign with a home match against St Neots 4.