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Sat 07 Jan 2017
St Neots
Ladies 1st XI
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2
S Reynolds (45'), T Hustwait (70')
A Game of 2 Halves
Laura Beacon8 Jan 2017 - 15:14
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Kettering blowing away the cobwebs at St Neots
It was time to blow away the Christmas break cobwebs for the Kettering Ladies 1st XI team, taking on St Neots Ladies 1s in their first friendly of the new year. The team also welcomed back Bethany Lewis and Laura Cave, and with a squad of 15 this week the rest of the season looks promising.
The first half started as expected with St Neot's coming out of the blocks quite strong and catching Kettering on the back foot. The match sharpness and the pace of the game caught the away side out, and whilst they were still trying to find their footing in the game St. Neots took advantage and went ahead from a deflected penalty corner. Kettering started to find their way in to the game and by the end of the first half were starting to apply pressure through Jess Moricca and Megan Forader.
A positive team talk and a breather seemed to work wonders for the team and it was Kettering that took control of the game from the start of the second half, dominating possession and creating excellent links across the pitch. They were soon rewarded as Jess Austin intercepted the ball to start a string of passes between Mandy Starsmore-Young, Harriet Goswell, and player of the match, Sophie Reynolds, who then went on to score past the keeper who was left stranded in the middle of the D. Kettering were now well and truly in the game and continued to press. The side managed to earn a number of penalty corners and were unlucky to have not taken advantage of these. There was also some close opportunities in front of the goal with both Mandy Starsmore-Young and Kate Randle coming close to adding to the tally. In true dramatic fashion, however, Kettering left it to the dying seconds of the game to find the winner when a penalty corner was awarded just before the final whistle. The first penalty corner broke down and Kettering were awarded a second. The initial strike was saved by the keeper but rebounded back into the circle. Kettering were the quickest to react to the bouncing ball with Goswell's attempt also saved, but landing favourably for Toni Hustwait to tuck away.
With 3 more friendly fixtures to prepare for the second half of the season Kettering should find themselves fully prepared to see the season out confidently.
The first half started as expected with St Neot's coming out of the blocks quite strong and catching Kettering on the back foot. The match sharpness and the pace of the game caught the away side out, and whilst they were still trying to find their footing in the game St. Neots took advantage and went ahead from a deflected penalty corner. Kettering started to find their way in to the game and by the end of the first half were starting to apply pressure through Jess Moricca and Megan Forader.
A positive team talk and a breather seemed to work wonders for the team and it was Kettering that took control of the game from the start of the second half, dominating possession and creating excellent links across the pitch. They were soon rewarded as Jess Austin intercepted the ball to start a string of passes between Mandy Starsmore-Young, Harriet Goswell, and player of the match, Sophie Reynolds, who then went on to score past the keeper who was left stranded in the middle of the D. Kettering were now well and truly in the game and continued to press. The side managed to earn a number of penalty corners and were unlucky to have not taken advantage of these. There was also some close opportunities in front of the goal with both Mandy Starsmore-Young and Kate Randle coming close to adding to the tally. In true dramatic fashion, however, Kettering left it to the dying seconds of the game to find the winner when a penalty corner was awarded just before the final whistle. The first penalty corner broke down and Kettering were awarded a second. The initial strike was saved by the keeper but rebounded back into the circle. Kettering were the quickest to react to the bouncing ball with Goswell's attempt also saved, but landing favourably for Toni Hustwait to tuck away.
With 3 more friendly fixtures to prepare for the second half of the season Kettering should find themselves fully prepared to see the season out confidently.
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