BDHC 1s (1) v Kettering (3)

BDHC 1s (1) v Kettering (3)
It is a measure of the wholesale change in attitude this season that the Dragons welcomed table toppers Kettering to Stamford School confident that they could come away with a positive result.
Right from the start, Kettering were sharper and quicker to the ball, their one touch passing causing real problems for Bourne Deeping who were indebted to the dynamism of Adrian Portlock in goal, flinging himself in front of everything to keep Kettering out. Midway through the first half the deadlock was broken after a rapid counter attack starting in the Kettering left back position quickly found the ball in the Dragons’ D, and though Portlock made the initial save, the rebound was chased down and despatched despite the best efforts of several defenders on the line.
A penalty corner was Bourne Deepings life line back into the game, Ben Brittain’s drag flick was surely sailing wide before a defender intervened to deflect the ball past his own goal keeper and bring the scores level.
Having not conceded a single penalty corner throughout a disciplined and hard fought first half, the second half was comparative pandemonium as Kettering pushed an extra attacker forward and the Dragons suddenly found themselves playing 20 yards further back than they had been. Easy outlets had been severed and a tiring midfield put pressure on the back line as pressure mounted and mistakes followed with the Dragons conceding at least half a dozen penalty corners and 2 penalty flicks! Kettering were left ruing the superb form of man of the match Portlock, coupled with their own poor form in front of goal along with the timely intervention of the goal frame on at least 4 seperate occasions, including the first of the 2 penalty flicks to keep the score at 1-1 before the gates were finally breached by a well worked short corner and the second flick gave the scoreline a fairer reflection on the game at 3-1.