Spalding Sharks slipped to a 6-5 defeat at Kettering last Thursday night in an incredibly close contest.
The Sharks, who represent Spalding Water Polo, scored first through Gareth Lord after a good attacking build-up.
Lord soon added his second with a cracking goal from out wide, but hosts Kettering struck twice to level the score at 2-2 at the end of the first quarter.
Then came a tough period, as Spalding had plenty of shots in the second quarter but were unable to find the net. In contrast, Kettering found the net three times to be 5-2 ahead at half time.
The third quarter was evenly matched until Josh Rowlands received a long pass from goalkeeper Jon Davis and shot into the top corner.
Lord then got his third of the match after Jack Carpenter intercepted a Kettering attack, swam 15m and quickly passed to him.
He scored in the bottom corner to cut the deficit to 5-4 and set up a grandstand final period.
Kettering extended their lead again within the first minute of the fourth quarter, but he Sharks refused to go under. They piled on the pressure which eventually paid off as quick passing between
Davis, James Teesdale and Jimmy Hook set up Lord for his fourth and Spalding’s fifth with two minutes to go.
More end-to-end play followed, but time ran out for Spalding to grab the equaliser.
