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City picked up three very valuable points with a performance of great grit and determination against a Corby side sitting just outside the play-off places at kick off. This match marked the first time in charge for Corby’s new manager Gary Setchell but he saw his side concede after only three minutes when a long ball from defence went to Tom Waumsley and his shot from the edge of the box found the bottom corner to give City an early lead.
After going down so early Corby went looking for an equaliser. The visitors first attack of meaning came after 13 minutes when a shot from Corby’s captain Daniel Gordon was deflected for the first corner of the game, which was comfortably defended by City.
A few minutes later Ben Bradley crossed from the left but Tom Waumsley’s header went wide. With Corby struggling to get through the City defence they made use of the long throw from Daniel Gordon but all of his efforts in the first half were dealt with very well by City who were defending in numbers. It took 30 minutes for City to win their first corner and from it Yaw Ofusu had a chance, but his header went wide of the target. City carved out a couple more chances towards the end of the first half, and from one of them a long ball from Daniel Cotton fell just too close to the Corby keeper who saved as Tom Waumsley closed in. Overall a pretty even half in terms of possession with City creating the very few scoring chances.
City opened the 2nd half brightly with Tom Waumsley dragging a shot wide of the goal from the edge of the box shortly after kick off. Five minutes into the half City went 2-0 up, Daniel Cotton’s shot from the edge of the 6-yard box squeezing under Corby’s keeper to double the lead. On 56 minutes Corby had a big shout for a penalty when it looked like one of their players was fouled in the box but the referee immediately waived away their claims. Corby continued to deploy the long throw tactic and City continued to defend these very well. It took until the 65th minute for Corby to have a shot on target when O’Brien’s shot was comfortably gathered by Joe Welch. Five minutes later Corby’s Kern Miller flicked a header goalward but once again a comfortable save for Joe Welch.
On 72 minutes Ben Nolan and Mikey Davis came on for Ben Bradley and Daniel Cotton. This was Mikey Davis’ first appearance since his injury three months ago. A minute after they came on Jarid Robson made a breakaway, but his shot was saved by Jason Alexander in the Corby goal. Corby persisted with the long throw-in as their best chance to get the ball into the box but again City’s defence dealt with these threats admirably.
With ten minutes to go Corby put together their best move of the game down their right-hand side but it came to nothing in the end thanks yet again to excellent defending from City. With a few minutes to go Simon Swinton came on to replace Tommy Rigby in midfield. City created one last chance for Tom Waumsley but he was well tackled in the box when about to shoot. After four additional minutes added on, the referee blew the final whistle and City were the winners by two goals to nil.
A very solid all-round performance by the whole City team, with Tom Waumsley voted the sponsors man of the match for his tireless efforts all game. Corby Town never threw the towel in, but they struggled to create chances thanks to excellent defending by City throughout the match.
The attendance of 318 was the highest of the season, boosted by a decent number who had travelled over from Corby.
City: Welch, Miles, Battersby, Maynard Ofosu, Parr, Rigby, Bradley, Waumsley, Robson, Cotton. Subs Nolan (replaced Bradley 72 minutes), Chandler (not used), Davis (replaced Cotton 72 minutes), Swinton (replaced Rigby 88 minutes), Tassell (not used).
The Onlooker
PS, for those of you who like a statistic, the last time that City won 2-0 away in the league and in the very next game followed it up by winning at home 2-0 in the league was way back in March 1963!
