Colts Survive A Kettle Scolding

The Colts' were made to work hard and were close to being burnt by the new boys Kettle United in the Jon Harrison Memorial Trophy, but a late rally saved the day.

The visitors started the game brightly with a couple of early half-chances before the home side scored in the 14th minute when Kyle Leslie nodded home from close range.

This stung the Colts into action and Dan Kenny restored parity in the 19th minute when he slammed home a powerful drive past the keeper after a good lay off from Simon Sanaghan. The Colts then had a goal disallowed for offside and Kenny again went close with a looping effort just over the crossbar.

Sanaghan was on the receiving end of one robust challenge too many and was forced off just before half time to be replaced by Jamie Forrester, with Kieran Wilson dropping back into Sanaghan's role.

Kettle were not giving the Colts an easy time and Yunnissi went close with a flicked header that fell just wide from a deep cross. But the Kettle number 17 made amends in the 64th minute when a through ball sent Yunnissi through on goal and he slotted the ball past the advancing Mark Robertson to give Kettle their second lead of the game.

It was the livened up the game as the Colts battled hard to get back into the game. Wilson went close when his header flashed past the far post from an Andy Gourlay free-kick in the 67th minute.

Manager Allan Moody made a treble chance to try and change the fortunes throwing on Damian Gonsales, Ryan Campbell and trialist Lucas Fenton into the fold, and it was Gonsales that appeared to make the biggest impact having an effort saved within minutes of coming on. Wilson again went close before Dan Kenny brought an excellent point-blank save out of the Kettle keeper in the 73rd minute.

Colts were pushing further and further up in search of the equaliser and it duly came in the 76th minute when Gonsales did well to lay the ball across the face of goal and it was met with the onrushing Ross Stewart who beat Jamie Tierney to poke home from close range.

The visitors then snatched victory from the jaws of defeat just two minutes later when superb work by Forrester saw the winger jinx his way into the box and send over a pin-point cross onto the head of Kenny who had the simplist of tasks but to nod home the gem of a cross.

Kettle seemed to struggle with the impact Gonsales was having up front with the Colts' sub having a couple of chances of his own that was either blocked or brought out another great save from the home keeper.

It was a nervy-game at times, thanks to the hard-working display of a very good Kettle side. But ultimately a very rewarding end for the Colts who record two wins out of two in the Jon Harrison Memorial Trophy heading into a big local derby against Kinross at Myre Park on Saturday.