A Brilliant Rainy Result

It was going to be Kettering 1s first test as a 1st team squad against an unknown Cambridge 3s in difficult rainy conditions. We started on the front foot and didn't really take our foot off the gas for the whole game. Kettering went close to scoring a few times at the start of the 1st half before Mandy Starsmore-Young was in the right place at the right time to get on the end of a cross for the first goal. There was some great link up play between Meg Forader, Anna Elson and Sophie Reynolds in the centre of midfield with our forwards to create a lot of scoring opportunity and also to prevent Cambridge making a quick break out of defence. There were a few times where our defence had to come in to action in the first half, and with new players coming in to the side to make a very different defence to last season, they tackled well and kept Cambridge down to very few chances at goal. In the second half our fitness shone through as we pressed further and further up the pitch. Anna Elson and Jess Moricca piled on the pressure with some very good runs through the middle of the pitch as the linked up well. It wasn't long before the goals started flying in with Harriet Goswell doubling Kettering's tally shortly after the break followed by another from Mandy Starsmore-Young. Jess Moricca showed her ability with a great solo run from the oppositions 25 into the D to then calmly slide the ball past the keeper for Kettering's 4th goal. Soon after some great pressure inside the oppositions D meant they couldn't get the ball out and eventually it fell to Emma Findley who slapped the ball into the bottom left corner for Kettering's 5th. In the dying minutes of the game Meg Forader's solo run from inside the oppositions half around the right side of the D was neatly finished with a little lift into the bottom left corner of the goal for Kettering's 6th. All in all a great team performance for the first game together which made for a very difficult man of the match decision which was won by Anna Elson. Next week is our last friendly vs Towcester 1s and may be a more defensive challenge but all is looking promising for this season.