Kettering Put 4 Past Belper

Kettering Ladies 1st team pulled out all the stops this weekend to put on their best team performance of the season so far! Right from the start of the game Kettering put pressure on the visiting side and made a statement that they were here to win the game. The initial push back saw the ball slickly played to Cath Irvin who moved the ball out to the right where player of the match Megan Forader used her lightening pace to drive into the circle. Kettering were unlucky to not be ahead in that first minute of the game. The pace of the game was set and it was safe to say that Belper struggled with this for the entirety of the contest. 

Unfortunately an injury to one of Belper’s players meant the game had to be stopped to allow for treatment, but when the game finally resumed Kettering were straight back to their game plan. 

The first goal came from another straight strike at a penalty corner for Jess Austin, that again proved too powerful for the defender on the line to stop. This was soon followed up by the second goal of the half as the ball was played to the right where Mally Dolphin’s firm hit into the circle was deflected past the keeper by Forader. The first half ended at 2-0 but could easily have been double that! 

Having made such an emphatic start to the game and with everyone working hard for each other off the ball the feeling going in to the second half was that there were more goals in this game, and indeed there were! 

The breakdown of play and the success of the press worked so well that Belper weren’t able to get the ball near the home sides circle. 

The third goal came from a long corner that Austin played to centre back Toni Hustwait who drove into the circle along the back line, teeing the ball up nicely for Emma Findlay to firmly finish the ball in the back of the net. Kettering needed this third goal to consolidate the win. But they weren’t willing to give up attacking just yet and the fourth goal came as a string of slick passes starting from Charlie Fowle at the back enabled a ball to reach Irvin at the top of the circle, whose hit was anticipated by Dolphin and her dive for the deflection lifted the ball over the keeper. 

Unfortunately a slight lapse in concentration saw a ball hit through to reach one of the visiting sides quicker players and despite the best efforts of Findlay the ball was slotted past a cold Nik Baker in goal. Not an ideal end to the game but certainly not a concern for the side that had dominated for the majority of the game. 

An ecstatic and deserved win for the ladies whose hard work at training under the guidance of new coach Jamie Dodd paid off today. Now to Tamworth next weekend!!