Jon Mansfield's match report: A crowd of over 700 turned out to see this stalemate. Kettering fielded a team including ex U's Colin Vowden and Adie Hayes, United line up mainly first team players as at Cambridge City including trialists Alex Russell and this time Louie Donowa replacing Michael Kyd on the right and Van Heusden in goal. Kettering opened impressively, forcing a couple of early corners, the United midfield failing to take control of the match, chances for United were few and far between. Kettering took the lead on 13 minutes not against the run of play it has to be said, when a break away move left their striker unmarked about 30 yds out, he rounded the United trialist goalkeeper with ease and slotted home into the empty net to make it 1-0. United pushed hard but the passing game failed to get going, relying on to many long balls forward which the Kettering defence seemed to cope with fairly easily, Most of the damage seemed to be caused by Butler and Benjamin, and it was big Trev who had the best chance to score as he failed to get a foot to a Butler cross which evaded the keeper and rolled agonisingly accross the face of the goal. With Donowa failing to impress wide on the right, Alex Russell also failed to take charge of the match as he did against City on friday, and looked a little more ordinary this time, however he did put some good balls behind the defence for Butler to run on to. It was one of these balls which gave Butler his best chance just before half time, as he latched on to a through ball but hit his shot straight at the keeper. A couple of minutes later it was Russell who had a chance to score as Benjamin headed a cross back accross the face of the goal, the ball getting tangled in Russell's feet on the edge of the six yard box but somehow he just couldn't get a clean shot in. Half time 1-0 to Kettering. The second half followed the pattern of the first as again United failed to create many clear cut chances, I must also add at this point, the referee seemed to see every challenge from the Kettering perspective, award them numerous free kicks for nothing challenges but failing to be moved when our players got choppped down from behind I don't think I have ever got so cross with an official at a Pre-sesaon game. United made a few substitutions with about 15 minutes to go, Barrett came on for Van Heusden, Donowa (Unimpressive) going off for Kyd, Russell went off for Preece and Mustoe being replaced by Wanless. This injected a bit of enthusiasm to United with Kyd taking on players down the right and the midfield runs of Wanless things started to happen, several times United went close, Butler in behind the defence several times but was thwarted by Ketterings keeper who was off his line like lightning every time, to deny Butler the opportunities. At last there was a breakthrough as a ball played around the box was played back (by Butler) for Ian Ashbee to hit a shot past the Kettering keeper from about 15 yards. Shortly after that Kyd looked to be in after a poor ball squared accross the Kettering Back four was intercepted, Kyd running at goal was maliciously brought down, which would have warranted a sending off for the defender in a league match, the defender was substituted and United nearly worked a clever free kick a la Argentina but this time involving three players, but the lay off was too close to the kettering keeper. All in all a not a very impressive performance by United, we were worthy of a draw, but it has to be said Kettering did play quite well. Donowa looked very ineffective, Russell slightly disappointing after his previous display, Van Heusden in goal was pretty good, was rounded easily for the goal but apart from that did very little wrong.

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