A slightly newer look Kettering 1st team went to Tamworth in hopes of getting their points tally started.
We started on the front foot by putting some good pressure on the Tamworth defence with Meg Forader making some excellent runs down the right hand side of the pitch and our mids pushing up to aid in the attack.
In one of these attacks we managed to win a short corner. Laura Beacon and Liz Metcalfe lining up at the top of the circle to receive the ball from Stacy Hall. The ball fell lovely to Metcalfe who smashed it into the goal hitting the top of the back board. Kettering deservedly in the lead.
As the half wore on Tamworth started to get more of a foothold on the game, making some strong attacks and winning some short corners of their own. Some great defence by Hall, Michelle Tanser, Beacon and Emma Storey meant that nothing came of these corners. During this period of defensive action for Kettering, player of the match Nik Baker in goal also made some cracking stops as Tamworth tried to smash the ball in from the top of the D. Gracie Gault produced some excellent tackling and interceptions to stifle the Tamworth attacking opportunities. Some excellent play from Ellie Mulligan, Harriet Graham, Emma Findlay and Sophie Reynolds in midfield kept the Tamworth attacks at a minimum and started some forward play for Kettering too. Kettering held firm and finished the half 1-0 up.
The second half started in the same way as the first and Kettering were piling on the pressure. However Tamworth, on a break away, managed to get a short corner awarded to them about 10 minutes into the half. This was smashed into the right post, the speed of the shot beating the one runner and the defensive player on the post. 1-1.
This did not dampen Kettering's spirit and they played on and made a lot of attacking play. Ola Bednarczyk down the left hand side made some fantastic runs and looked cool under pressure as she produced some lovely skill in the D to provide goal scoring opportunities. Georgie Jones on the right also producing some great attacking runs to gain a few man of the match votes. None of which we could convert however.
As the game wore on Kettering started to become stretched as they pressed forward and got a little tired in midfield giving Tamworth some of their own opportunities to win the game through short corners. Some fantastic defensive deflections from Storey, Tanser and Hall as well as some cracking shot stops by Baker kept Kettering in the game.
In the end the final score of 1 all was a fair outcome for the match and Kettering get their first point of the season. Onwards and upwards.