Kettering should have had this game sown up in the first half. Two goals disallowed for offside, the first after 11minutes was a closer decision than the one on the last minutes of first half injury time. The Kettering striker lifting the ball over Howells and Harford clearing off the line. It was then turned in by a Kettering player ,who had been in a comfortably offside position for the original shot. Sutton had a anxious moment looking for a linesman flag that didn't show. However the ref ruled the goal out. All the chances worth mentioning in this half. fell to Kettering . Howells again making a couple of cracking saves. Sutton's only half chance came from Nko Ekoku who blasted over after a free kick. With half time approaching Gwynne berry went in for a tackle in his own penalty box. It looked like He fell awkwardly , and he was then carried off with his legs strapped .
Sutton came out looking like a different team in the second half. Rowland replaced Berry and Harford dropped back into the defence. They nearly got off the mark immediately. A fine pass from Newhouse put Mark Watson through with the keeper beaten, but Watson's shot cannoned off the bar from close range. A fine cross by Ekoku was finally cleared for a corner in the 48th minute. Four minutes later Howells was called into action as the ball was played into the Sutton area, His save being clearing off the line by a defender. Despite the bright start, Sutton went behind in the 56th minute, Brown finishing strongly for Kettering. Sutton kept their heads up and equalised through newboy Newhouse, who made a very impressive debut. Harlow laid through a quality ball which split the defence. Newhouse slotted the ball accurately past the keeper for a well taken first goal. Jimmy Dack replaced Sears on the 65th minute and later Hutchinson came on for Watson. Sutton finished the stronger of the two teams with a succession of corners and although they might have felt justified a taking the points ,after failing to get anything at Kettering's ground in September, a point was the most they deserved.
HOWELLS,BROOKER,SKELLY,BERRY,LAKER,HARLOW,SEARS,HARFORD,NEWHOUSE,WATSON,EKOKU SUBS HUTCHINSON,ROWLANDS,DACK,FORRESTER.