Kettering Sink on the Water Based

With a few new faces to the team today our ladies travelled to Birmingham for the first round of the Investec Cup to face a side who play in the league above and have won all 3 of their first league games. Kettering were prepared for a tough game but were surprised to find that they were on the front foot and were putting pressure on the home side, causing them to make mistakes and allow Kettering to press forward. Sophie Reynolds and Jess Austin worked tirelessly in the centre of midfield with support either side from Cath Irvin and Meg Forader. Exemplary organisation from the back by Charlie Fowle meant that Edgbaston were kept at bay and it was Kettering who took the lead from a well-worked short corner that saw Harriet Goswell tuck the ball in on the left post with 10 minutes of the half left to play. Edgbaston managed to come back just before half time through another good short corner routine but Kettering felt positive by the half time whistle. As Edgbaston stepped up the pressure for the second half, Kettering began to tire and the short passes soon started to be replaced by long balls that were unfortunately picked up by the opposition. The pressing forward and the unfamiliarity of the water-based pitch saw Kettering give away further short corners that potentially could have been avoided and during this second half Edgbaston managed to find the net from 3 of these short corners. Another good performance on the whole by Kettering and once again a lot of positives to draw upon for the team who are still developing and finding their style of play.