MATCHDAY
STATISTICS
CONTACT
CORBY TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB | FIXTURE INFORMATION
Corby Town 3 - 2 Stafford Rangers (H)
Corby Town eased themselves into a two goal lead within ten minutes of the start.
On 6 minutes a deft backheader from Steve Diggin put Leon Mettam in and he made no mistake firing across keeper Lee Evans for the opener.
Four minutes later Mettam planted a fine header from a Gavin Strachan free kick, earned after good work from Steve Diggin, and Corby Town were on their way.
For another ten minutes the Steelmen looked as if they would score every time they went over the halfway line.
But then something changed. Stafford suddenly woke up and started playing the ball about and the Steelmen began to look a touch unsure of themselves.
Most Triangle regulars were happy to get to halftime still with a two goal cushion and felt all that was needed was some sharp words from the 'gaffa' to get things sorted out.
But the second half started as the first ended and try as they might the Steelemen didn't seem to be able to keep the ball.
Manager Graham Drury decided it was time to try some fresh legs and Joe Francis came on for Steve Diggin and Phil Watt for the injured Dave Deeney.
After 77 minutes with Stafford still calling the tune Jamie McGhee came on for Leon Mettam.
Three minutes later Stafford got the goal they deserved when substitute Ben Mills stepped in to a hesitant defence to lob the ball over Mark Osborn.
Corby fans feared the worst but then out of the blue, in the 88th minute, came the cavalry in the form of Paul Mayo who worked himself into a good position before rocketing a fierce shot across keeper Evans.
Surely that was it particularly when the board went up showing just four minutes left.
But within a minute it was nail chewing time again when Levi Reid broke through to make it 3-2.
The final whistle was a relief to Steelmen supporters but this was a game Corby Town would have lost before manager Graham Drury came on the scene.
Whether going into a two goal lead lulled them into a false sense of security so much so they had a job to pick themselves up again we'll never know.
The only thing certain is if you watch football long enough you never cease to be amazed and though Stafford will feel they should have had something out of the game it was jubilant Corby Town supporters who left the Triangle knowing their heroes were joint top of the league.
So they might not have ruled the game as we would have liked but we had another three points in the bag and that was all that was important.
C'mon you Steelmen.
The Team:
1 Mark Osborn
2 Dean West
3 Paul Mayo
4 Phil Gulliver
5 Chris Hope
6 Gavin Strachan
7 Dave Deeney (Phil Watt)
8 Steve Towers
9 Mark Stallard
10 Leon Mettam (Jamie McGhee)
11 Steve Diggin (Joe Francis)
12 Phil Watt
14 Chris Shaw
15 Joe Francis
16 Jamie McGhee
17 Jason Lee
Date of fixture: Sat 24 Oct 09
Kick off: 3.00pm