A great committed performance

The only regret the fifth team can have after this game is why they did not show such committed play earlier in the season. This was another game showing overall improvement and deserved better than a 2-0 defeat.

Despite a significantly different league ranking, the Dragons started strongly and continued to push forward using the particular talents of Kevin Baker on the right to cause difficulties for the Kettering defence. Lewis Gray caused a number of problems for them too, demonstrating his ever improving game.

Sadly Kettering went one up after the ball took a deflection from a Bourne Deeping stick into their own goal. This did not deter the Dragons who used the particular skills of the returning Wesley Thomas for probing moves forward along with James Gray who used every opportunity to attack down the left.

Action at both ends continued with a penalty corner on the stroke of half time for Kettering leading to their second goal through poor defence whilst the Dragons showed their own pressure by winning a number of penalty corners. Keeper Joe Ashby once again demonstrated his high skill, saving from a controversially awarded flick.

Neither team were however able to score in the second half and the Dragons must expect their improving game to result in more concrete results.