With the change of location and time, Kettering were please to travel nearer and only to Kimbolton school, and at a more sociable time. With the bright sunshine on arrival it looked like a lovely day for hockey. Then the rain cloud (which was about a pitch and half wide) decided to traverse across the sky and dump its load across the pitch during the warm up. Although it did throw up a lovely double rainbow.
With the more mature players sheltering in the dug out or changing room the youngsters we’re obviously oblivious to it. With 5mins to go the rain stopped and we could have our pre-match chat and award the Kettering Pins to the two newest 4s players Ed H and Amish.
There was plenty of energy from the start, a good move down the right saw Shaun draw the keeper out then flash a pass across the face of goal, for Ed H to be in the prefect position and keeping a cool head to slot home…that’s one way to settle the nerves. Although we were playing some nice hockey the warning signs were there….we were keeping hold of the ball to long and getting it taken off us too easily.
Not before too long this resulted in a short corner which St Neots did a nice routine and deflected in from our left hand post. De-ja-vu and a second PC resulted in their second goal this time down the right side.
With time ticking to the end of the first half, and with their keeper making a couple of good saves. It looked like we would go into the break a goal down. But with a minute to go Dani had his goal bound shot hit a foot on the line and a penalty stroke was awarded. Which was dispatched coolly by Shaun – 2:2 at the break.
A minute after the break saw the 4s injury list grow as Martin’s hamstring went.
Who said sibling rivalry wasn’t good. Having found out that his brother had scored for the 2s earlier and who was also watching from the sidelines, I had joked with Amish “to go and match his brother”. And that he did, with a wonder goal from the edge of the D flying high and pass the (very good) keeper, rippling the net.
A quickly taken free hit and a bit of standing off the player meant they drove to the base line and fired across a ball that was then scrambled in 3:3.
The great thing about the 4s is the belief and team work, and that we keep working until the final whistle blows, and with a couple of minutes remaining, this paid off as Shaun found the back of the net again.
Final whistle blew and the win secured. A great result considering 2 debutantes, 8 of the 14 were under 16 and several players were playing out of position.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Captain’s thoughts – There are some clubs that are nice to play against and St Neots is one of them. Friendly but competitive.

Player of the Match – Amish – a constant nuisance for the opposition to cope with and a wonder strike for his goal. (Closely followed by Seb who had another great game in defence.)

D0D – Paul – for passing the ball in the back left position straight to their player on the penalty spot. (luckily Nate was alert and smothered the opportunity)

Champagne moment – Two this week, the debut boys (Amish and Ed) each scoring their first goal for the 4s in their first game.

Captain’s mention – Sometimes we forget work rate and quality of our older player (i.e anyone over 18) as we come to expect that from them week in week out. So this week a special mention to Shaun, coolly slotted the penalty stroke away and nicely dispatched the winner. At the end of the day goals win games, and as a striker that’s your job, and luckily for us Shaun does that well. (and also provide the most assists)