Kettering Nomads FC

7th November 2009

Norton, Bright

Nomads unbeaten start to the League season was ended in emphatic fashion as they crashed to a heavy home defeat at the hands of newly promoted Ringstead Rangers.

Kettering's answer to Jock Ewing, and all round (literally) property magnate, Nathan Eady, made two changes from the team that had picked up a solid victory at Stanion the week before. Marks came in for Jackson, who was starting his five week suspension, and Smith returned to the centre of defence at the expense of Evans. After an impressive debut display for the reserves, Danny Morris joined brother Shaun on the bench.

Starting Line Up - Panter, Ingham, Massie, Joy, Smith, Clark, Piazza, Bright, Marks, C Thurlow, Norton. Subs - Evans, S Morris, D Morris.

With confidence flowing through the side, Nomads started the game on the front foot and had most of the early possession. However with Ringstead lying third in the table, it was obvious that they would be a stern test for the Orlingbury Road team.

This soon proved to be the case, when Ringstead took the lead against the run of play with their first real attempt on goal. After a crude challenge had brought down the away side's forward just outside the penalty area, the resulting free kick was whipped over the wall and into the bottom left corner of the net with Panter seemingly leaden footed.  

To their credit, Nomads refused to panic at the setback of going behind, and continued to try and play football wherever possible. After a couple of half chances from Joy's long throws had gone begging, they drew themselves level when a Clark corner from the left was headed high into the roof of the net by Norton. With the momentum now firmly in their favour, this should have been the platform for Nomads to go on and win the game, however in a matter of minutes they were behind again. Ingham failed to stop his opponent from cutting the ball back from the byline, and the resulting cross was headed into his own net by the diving Joy.

The game was becoming increasingly open, and whilst Nomads were looking threatening when they went forward, Ringstead were causing the home team's defence a lot of problems on the counter attack. Smith was fortunate not to concede a penalty when he appeared to stop two successive shots with his hand as Ringstead began to seize the initiative, and things got worse still for Nomads as they first lost Massie with a re-occurrence of the knee injury sustained two weeks ago, and then went further behind when a sweeping counter attack saw the arriving midfielder smash a perfectly weighted knockdown past a stranded Panter. Nomads grabbed a lifeline though, as Bright latched on to a long throw from Joy before sending his shot across the keeper and into the far corner. 

As the second half began, the next goal was going to be crucial, and as had been the case in the first period, Nomads started well in their search for another equaliser. However some good positions and chances were wasted, and frustration started to creep into the home team's play. Yet again Nomads were caught on the break, and despite a good last ditch tackle by Smith, the ball rebounded straight back to his opponent,who then scuffed a shot past Panter as he tried to narrow the angle to put the away side 4-2 up.

The Morris brothers were introduced into the game for Piazza and Marks as Eady looked to take one last throw of the dice. Chances fell to Smith, Clark, Thurlow and Norton but it soon became apparent that the luck was not with Nomads on this particular occasion. The final nail in the coffin came in the last five minutes, when Ringstead added a fifth goal courtesy of a fine finish on the half volley from their tricky forward.

Next week things will be no easier as Nomads travel to league leaders Daventry Drayton Grange. Eady will be expecting the same sort of response from his team as that shown after their only other defeat in the League Cup.