Despite finishing the game with nine men Hitchin secured a precious point against an accomplished Kettering side who remain unbeaten. When Blue Joy was sent off for a second yellow card after 75 minutes it looked bleak for Hitchin who were trailing 1-0. But they showed grit and determination to get back in the game with an 85^th minute equaliser. Even then they suffered more misfortune as Luke Stokoe was shown a straight red card for a high challenge in the second minute of stoppage time but they held on for a well deserved draw.

Team news was that Sean Duodu was on the bench for the first time after getting injured in the first friendly but the starting eleven was unchanged. Kettering had the first chance with Edward Panter flicking a shot over the bar but after 11 minutes the tried and tested combination of a Callum Nicolson corner and Ciaren Jones header led to a fine save by Paul White. Rio Deall shot into the side netting after a good move on 25 minutes before Jones was booked for a late challenge. Deall again came close with a shot over the bar.

Tyler McGregor made a good save from Tai Fleming before Joy received his first yellow card. Kettering were the better team in the first half and took the lead on 40 minutes. A corner was powerfully headed home by the giant Bayley Brown and it meant Hitchin had an uphill task in the second half.

Brown put a good chance wide of the post on 53 minutes but Hitchin hit back and Kye Tearle was about to shoot before being well tackled. Deall left the field injured and replacement Simeon Olarerin ran on to an excellent pass from Kav Cotter after 66 minutes but White saved his shot. The dismissal of Joy could have been fatal but instead Hitchin dug in and sought an equaliser. Olarerin had a tame shot easily saved before Freitas-Gouveia replaced Temi Akinbusoye after 82 minutes and two minutes later he was brought down in the penalty area by Tom Leak. A penalty was given and Freitas-Gouveia made no mistake with a well struck effort.

Then Stokoe got his marching orders but Hitchin held firm with nine men and were well worth the point which meant it was three games unbeaten. An interested spectator was Brett Donnelly on a spying mission ahead of the FA Cup game with Biggleswade Town next Saturday . The attendance was a very healthy 780 and the Hitchin supporters will have gone home impressed with the resilience of their team in challenging circumstances.

Manager Michael Jones was happy with the point and was really pleased with the way we kept going after the first sending off. He was also pleased with the impact the substitutes had on the game. He felt that this was the sort of game that we lost when we were last in the premier division but the current squad are proving more resilient and reacting positively to set backs.