It is a fact universally acknowledged that I am significantly the oldest player in the team but blimey I felt old today. Not just the usual ‘aches and pains’ old but it can’t be right when our three man ( three boy, surely?) forward line had a combined age of 40!! But they did and, as the great Bruce would say, “didn’t they do well”. With the age profile of the team this game really was a generation game.
Last time we played St Ives it was in a biblical downpour so a sunny day at sandy Bishop was a pleasant change. St Ives seemed much changed from the first time and we introduced Ed Hollwey and Amish Singodia as the 5ths didn’t have a game, and kept Sam Hawkins from last week.
The early skirmishes saw Kettering generally on top but some erratic short corner injections meant that no real chances were carved out. The rest of the half was fairly anonymous apart from a period when Kettering decided that there was no need to employ a right midfielder when we could have two left midfielders.
With these errors ironed out at half time the second half took on a similar pattern. If they played their cards right Kettering knew they would create plenty of chances and eventually the breakthrough was made when Adam Mills carved out an opportunity and Sam Tattersall fired home. The lead was short lived however as a scramble in the home defence saw St Ives equalise.
Jared Brooks was unceremoniously upended by the visiting keeper but not foul was given.
Would the game peter out into a draw? No!! There was still time for Tatty to absolutely smash home a reverse stick shots to give Kettering the spoils. A win that guarantees them a 3rd or 4th place finish. A fantastic effort in their first year back in Division 3 where survival was the aim. A win next week at home to basement boys Long Sutton will guarantee 3rd.
Special mention again to the youth today who played above their years and experience. The club is in really good shape with the quality (and quantity) of youngsters coming through the ranks.

Photos courtesy of Ian Hebden