Kettering come away with a draw

Another away game this weekend for Kettering Ladies XI to face Ashby whose results have been a bit sporadic this season, so Kettering were hopeful of taking all 3 points. 

With a number of usual players missing the side welcomed Michelle Tanser, Mandy Starsmore-Young and Sienna McNeil back into the fold. With new players unaware of team tactics covered in training other players started out of normal positions but this did not phase the side. All worked hard to ensure pockets of space were reduced and cut out quickly meaning the game became quite an even contest between the two sides. 

Unfortunately, Beth Winfield suffered an early injury which meant the team were now playing with the bare 11. However, Kettering continued to work tirelessly and were kept in the game by some fine tackling from Emma Storey and Stacy Hall in defence, as well as some solid saves by Nik Baker in goal. The away side’s resilience was soon rewarded as a penalty corner led to a walloping straight strike from Charlie Fowle that, even though the goalkeeper got a tough, she couldn’t stop the ball from passing through her legs in to the goal. This goal came at the right time and Kettering were in the lead going on to the half time break. 

Kettering soon doubles their lead as another penalty corner routine found, player of the match, Laura Beacon with space at the top of the circle whose firm strike was deflected into the goal by a well-placed Harriet Goswell. 

Concentration was still needed with a lot of the second half to go and fatigue starting to set in, whilst Ashby continued to make good use of their extra legs coming on in substitutions. A lapse in concentration and a wrongful assumption led to Ashby’s first goal. A struck ball coming down the left side dangerously lifted meaning 2 players had to duck to avoid being hit. With the assumption that this would be a free hit the Kettering defence had stopped but play continued and an overload of Ashby players in the circle saw the ball past Baker. With Ashby’s tails up a second equalising goal came within minutes as again there was a moment of confusion related to marking, allowing a player to be right in front of the goal and reverse tap the ball in to equal the score. 

Needless to say Kettering felt deflated and frustrated that they had let the lead slip away but held on towards the end as Ashby pushed harder in an attempt to find a winning goal. Kettering’s legs just weren’t there as the game was drawing to an end but they did enough to keep the score level and take a well-deserved point; it’s just a shame it wasn’t three!! 

Next week is the sides last game before the Christmas break at home to Tamworth so all hands on deck are needed to complete this half of the season on a positive!