Mens 3rd XI demolish Peterborough 7th XI

Kettering 3rd XI entertained City of Peterborough 7th XI and wanted to carry on their good form from the previous week. They got the dream start when they took the lead within five minutes. Nick Cusk executed a short-corner routine perfectly when he passed to Mark Hawkins at the back post for a vital deflection. Ben Mills was in imperious form in midfield and he found Hawkins in space in the circle. He selflessly slipped the ball to Andy Bull who slotted the ball home. Kettering were in no mood to relax and they kept the pressure on their visitors.
Hawkins found space in the D and he slammed home the third goal after 15 minutes. Mills then got in on the scoring act. He received the ball at the top of the circle and fended off the attentions of a young Peterborough defender before firing home. After 20 minutes, Andy Bull dribbled past a couple defenders but was then forced wide. Just when it looked like Peterborough had cleared the danger, Bull surprised the visiting defence and his shot found the bottom corner from a tight angle.
The pressure on the Peterborough goal was relentless and Mills scored again to make it six. Geoff Elliott was next to get on the scoresheet. He was in space on the right hand side, took the ball into the circle and then arrowed his shot past the visiting goalkeeper. With minutes of the half remaining, Hawkins completed his hat-trick in style. A neat passing move culminated in Hawkins firing an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net to make it 8-0 at half-time.

In the second period, the weather deteriorated and Kettering started to ease back a little. After ten minutes, good work by Hal Robinson sent Mills through. His initial shot was parried by the keeper but he was alert enough and persistent enough to put away the rebound from a narrow angle. Mills scored his fourth and Kettering's tenth after 17 minutes. He drove into the circle and manoeuvred the ball onto his reverse side. Despite losing his balance in the process, his backhand shot was too fast and accurate for the Peterborough goalie.
Kettering were aiming to get the whole team involved, from the defence through to the attack and Jake Coleman showed the way when he intercepted a pass and drove into the circle. Unfortunately for him, his control let him down at the last moment. Undaunted, the defender went on a similar run five minutes later and this time his shot caught the keeper off balance and found the back of the net to make it 11-0.
In the Kettering goal, Sam Berridge had been a virtual spectator but he showed good concentration and reactions to make a double save with seconds remaining on the clock.
A superb performance all round and next week Kettering travel to St Ives to play their 5th XI.