Some players find disappointment hard to take. Nine years ago at Lee Valley half of Kettering's o55s lost the o45 Final not realising that these opportunities don't come around very often. When they do you must take them. For these players this game was about unfinished business, maybe righting a wrong as they probably should have won in 2014.

A 4pm start at Lee Valley. A gloriously sunny day and a large travelling crowd made for a brilliant occasion. Kettering were game 4 on finals day on the show pitch.
The pitch freshly watered, the team announcements done, the ten second countdown complete - we're off.
Kettering's plan was to play on the front foot. There are goals in the team and they wanted to hit opponents Redland, from the wider Bristol area early, as they had done to opposition in the previous rounds. Redland were reigning champions and had not turned up to relinquish their trophy.
A very nervy first five minutes with both teams giving the ball away cheaply eventually settled down with Kettering on the offensive. A short corner won by Shez Coe was executed like clockwork. Injected by MAndy Starsmore-Young, stopped by Linzi Webster, switched to Liane Coleman whose shot was deflected allowing Starsmore-Young to volley home at the far post. Game on.
The first half was one of relentless Kettering pressure. After twenty minutes Coe took a quick free hit, beat a couple of players and her goalbound shot was finished off by Starsmore-Young. 2-0. Kettering's forward were all over Redland allowing Kettering's defence to really only do a mopping up job and restarting attacks. Helen Keyworth's pace was causing problems and chances kept arriving. Keyworth set up STarsmore-Young whose first time shot narrowly missed the far post and neat interplay between Starsmore-Young and Julia Telford allowed Linzi Webster to arrive late in the D but her diving shot was beaten away by the Redland keeper. Kettering weren't finished yet and another short corner allowed Coe to waltz past a couple of defenders and a simple pass allowed Starsmore-Young to complete a first half hat trick. They thinks it's all over? Not quite. A Redland short corner in stoppage time at the end of the first half was converted to dent Kettering's spirits as they went in for the break.
The team talk dismissed the late set back and focussed on what would be a half of Redland throwing the proverbial kitchen sink at Kettering and the need to keep structurally sound. This is pretty much what happened. An early Kettering short corner was mis trapped by Coe and the rest of the half was old school backs to the wall with occasional counter attacks. Time for the defence to step up. Brilliantly marshalled by Mel Linnell and Dusty Mason, ably assisted by Pauline Woodthorpe, Jayne Jackson and Pam Farr Kettering kept Redland at arms length. Keeper Sarah McDonald was called upon to make a couple of routine saves from short corners but despite conceding possession the midfield shield helped keep Redland from the Kettering D.
Sometimes you know your name is probably on the trophy and with fifteen minutes to go Redland hit the bar and post in a five second passage of play. Still 3-1 and it's now about seeing out the game. The scorching weather and sapping pitch meant players were getting tired. with 15 to go Issy McDonald replaced Telford, who had run herself to a standstill. With ten left the coaches knew we just had to survive until 5 left and we could kill the game from there. Job done - 5 to go. Playing on the counter Coe set up Keyworth late on but her shot was well saved and McDonald was unable to convert the rebound. Farr saw green for a rather clumsy tackle with 4 to go and Redland were in the last chance saloon but Kettering were not to be denied and had the opportunity to give club stalwart Sue Russell a chance to finish the game on the pitch after a season lost through injury. No more chances conceded and aided by the the vocal ten second countdown Kettering were National Champions. Cue wild scenes of celebration.