This Saturday, after watching the big U16 County Cup game between Brackley and Brackley, I headed off up the A43 for more Northamptonshire football, a Northants Combination Premier League game between Corby Stewart & Lloyds and Raunds Town. This was another ground that I had long had on my list so, like Bacup Borough on Wednesday evening, it was great to be able to finally get to Occupation Road. I'd also never se S&L play before, although I had seen their opponents play, even if it was 10 years ago (A Local(ish) Derby).
This would be the first time these teams had played in the same division since the 2017-18 season, when both were in Division One of the united Counties League. That was the season that Corby dropped into Step 7, where they've remained ever since. Raunds, meanwhile, stayed in the United Counties League before moving laterally to the Spartan South Midlands league in 2021. However, after flirting with relegation for three years, they finished bottom last season, joining Corby in the Northants Combination, who at the same time were being promoted from Division One back into the Premier League.
In that final UCL season, eight years ago, spoils were shared. Whilst Rounds had an empathic 7-0 home win, they were beaten 3-2 at Corby, one of only two wins all season for The Foundrymen.
Before kick off, Raunds sat in seventh spot with 11 points from their 7 games. They had won 3 out of the last 4 in all competitions, including a good 1-0 defeat of high-flying Medbourne. However, they lost at home to Burton Park Wanderers last time out. Stewart & Lloyds started the day two places and five points below their visitors, having played a game fewer. They had, however, lost their last three in all competitions.
This would be the first time these teams had played in the same division since the 2017-18 season, when both were in Division One of the united Counties League. That was the season that Corby dropped into Step 7, where they've remained ever since. Raunds, meanwhile, stayed in the United Counties League before moving laterally to the Spartan South Midlands league in 2021. However, after flirting with relegation for three years, they finished bottom last season, joining Corby in the Northants Combination, who at the same time were being promoted from Division One back into the Premier League.
In that final UCL season, eight years ago, spoils were shared. Whilst Rounds had an empathic 7-0 home win, they were beaten 3-2 at Corby, one of only two wins all season for The Foundrymen.
Before kick off, Raunds sat in seventh spot with 11 points from their 7 games. They had won 3 out of the last 4 in all competitions, including a good 1-0 defeat of high-flying Medbourne. However, they lost at home to Burton Park Wanderers last time out. Stewart & Lloyds started the day two places and five points below their visitors, having played a game fewer. They had, however, lost their last three in all competitions.
Ryan Lovell's free-kick was the closest to a 1st half goal Kicking up the slope in the first half, the home side opened the game on the offensive. Only a minute was on the clock when Lee Garvie had the first strike. It was off target, but it was a promising start from Corby who settled into the game well. However, that good start could have been completely undone in the seventh minute when Stan Roberts stuck out a hand to palm down a rather lively backpass, conceding a free-kick around 8 yards from goal slightly to the right as Raunds looked at it. The ball was touched for captain Ryan Lovell to strike but Roberts made up for his error with a great reflex save to push the ball wide for a corner.
It was tit for tat for a while after that. Joe Callaghan got free on the left for Corby, but couldn't find Michal Tkacik with his cross. Seconds later, at the other end, Michael Watson drew a very good save from Roberts and, from the ensuing corner, Ryan Bell was unfortunate to see his towering header fly inches over the bar.
Jamie Pickford then swung over a glorious ball for Lovell, who saw his diving header also narrowly beat the woodwork, whilst up the opposite end Callaghan was on the end of cross from Robinson, which he turned in at the far post only to see the assistant's flag up. The home side were not pleased with the decision. However, I was directly in line with it and, as a neutral, I can say that the decision was 100% correct.
Two minutes later Ryan Bell was close again, heading just wide after a good short corner routine saw him in space at the near post.
Just before the half-hour the hosts came close again when Tkacik ran the right hand channel before cutting the ball back for Robinson, who fired just over the bar. To be fair, Matthew Biggs probably had it covered anyway.
There were more half chances for Corby, mostly coming from Robinson's work o the wing. However, the final ball into the box never quite matched the accuracy of the approach work. Patrick Campbell came closest with a header for one of Robinson's crosses. Meanwhile, the final chance of the half fell to Raunds when Lovell glanced a header narrowly past the right-hand upright.
HT Corby Stewart & Lloyds 0 Raunds Town 0. A tight but lively half. Two evenly matched sides, both of whom were happy to attack at every opportunity. Aside from the disallowed goal, the early Lovell free-kick was probably the closest either side had come to scoring.
It was tit for tat for a while after that. Joe Callaghan got free on the left for Corby, but couldn't find Michal Tkacik with his cross. Seconds later, at the other end, Michael Watson drew a very good save from Roberts and, from the ensuing corner, Ryan Bell was unfortunate to see his towering header fly inches over the bar.
Jamie Pickford then swung over a glorious ball for Lovell, who saw his diving header also narrowly beat the woodwork, whilst up the opposite end Callaghan was on the end of cross from Robinson, which he turned in at the far post only to see the assistant's flag up. The home side were not pleased with the decision. However, I was directly in line with it and, as a neutral, I can say that the decision was 100% correct.
Two minutes later Ryan Bell was close again, heading just wide after a good short corner routine saw him in space at the near post.
Just before the half-hour the hosts came close again when Tkacik ran the right hand channel before cutting the ball back for Robinson, who fired just over the bar. To be fair, Matthew Biggs probably had it covered anyway.
There were more half chances for Corby, mostly coming from Robinson's work o the wing. However, the final ball into the box never quite matched the accuracy of the approach work. Patrick Campbell came closest with a header for one of Robinson's crosses. Meanwhile, the final chance of the half fell to Raunds when Lovell glanced a header narrowly past the right-hand upright.
HT Corby Stewart & Lloyds 0 Raunds Town 0. A tight but lively half. Two evenly matched sides, both of whom were happy to attack at every opportunity. Aside from the disallowed goal, the early Lovell free-kick was probably the closest either side had come to scoring.
Corby looking for an opener Corby were back out for the second half well before the allotted times was up. Presumably there was not too much for the coaching team to say at the break. The certainly had not performed like a team that had lost the last three games. More of the same was probably the matching order for the second half.
Now kicking down the slope, they did appear to have seized the initiative and, although they didn't generate any clear cut chances early on, they seemed to have blunted the Raunds strike force, at least for now.
The first big chance of the second period came in the 70th minute when Matthew Biggs pulled off a very good one-handed save to keep out an acrobatic Cole McWilliam effort following a left-wing corner. Saying that, it was by no means one-way traffic. Two minutes later, Stanley Roberts had to be equally alert as he was forced to tip Jamie Pickford's dipping strike over the bar.
That save could well have proved decisive, because the very next minute Corby took the lead when another Dylan Robinson cross, this time bang on the money, was turned in at the near post by Liam Brown. 1-0
The goal prompted a response from Raunds, who very nearly got back on level terms with three minutes. Pickford was again the instigator on the right, beating his marker before delivering a low ball in to Alfie Young, who didn't catch it cleanly but, even so, it took a very good one-handed diving save by Roberts to keep it out.
With eight minutes to go Corby sealed the deal, but it wasn't without some controversy. A break down the left-flank saw the ball drilled across the face of goal, eventually going in at the far post off Michal Tkacik, much to the disgust of the Raunds defence who were adamant that the player was in an offside position. Being on the opposite side of the ground and almost at the other end, I had no view of the line so couldn't say either way. However, the assistant didn't flag and the goal was given. 2-0
There was no way that Raunds were going to get back from two goals down in the final 8 minutes plus stoppage.
FT Corby Stewart & Lloyds 2 Raunds Town 0. After a very even first half, Corby definitely upped their game in the second and, in my opinion, just about deserved the three points based on that alone. However, Raunds arguably had the better chances int he first half, and could have gone into the break in front. It's hard to see there being too much between these sides come May.
Raunds remain in seventh spot, but the result sees Corby jump up to eighth, two pints behind The Shopmates with a game in hand. Next week Stewart & Lloyds are back at home as they welcome ninth placed Higham Town to Occupation Road. Town are one place and two points behind the Foundrymen, but have played a game more. Raunds make the journey to Finedon Volta, who currently sit in 12th spot, just three points above bottom team Heyford Athletic.
Corby Stewart & Lloyds: Roberts, Evans, Kingston, S.Parker, E.Parker(c), Wilkinson, Robinson, Garvie, Tckiak, McWilliam, Callaghan. Subs: Lyons, Brown, Martin, Campbell
Raunds Town: Biggs, Pickford, Rice, Spaughton, Kew, Chubb, Cowley, Bell, Lovell(c), Watson, Wilson. Subs: Seago, Buckland, Gordan, Young
Now kicking down the slope, they did appear to have seized the initiative and, although they didn't generate any clear cut chances early on, they seemed to have blunted the Raunds strike force, at least for now.
The first big chance of the second period came in the 70th minute when Matthew Biggs pulled off a very good one-handed save to keep out an acrobatic Cole McWilliam effort following a left-wing corner. Saying that, it was by no means one-way traffic. Two minutes later, Stanley Roberts had to be equally alert as he was forced to tip Jamie Pickford's dipping strike over the bar.
That save could well have proved decisive, because the very next minute Corby took the lead when another Dylan Robinson cross, this time bang on the money, was turned in at the near post by Liam Brown. 1-0
The goal prompted a response from Raunds, who very nearly got back on level terms with three minutes. Pickford was again the instigator on the right, beating his marker before delivering a low ball in to Alfie Young, who didn't catch it cleanly but, even so, it took a very good one-handed diving save by Roberts to keep it out.
With eight minutes to go Corby sealed the deal, but it wasn't without some controversy. A break down the left-flank saw the ball drilled across the face of goal, eventually going in at the far post off Michal Tkacik, much to the disgust of the Raunds defence who were adamant that the player was in an offside position. Being on the opposite side of the ground and almost at the other end, I had no view of the line so couldn't say either way. However, the assistant didn't flag and the goal was given. 2-0
There was no way that Raunds were going to get back from two goals down in the final 8 minutes plus stoppage.
FT Corby Stewart & Lloyds 2 Raunds Town 0. After a very even first half, Corby definitely upped their game in the second and, in my opinion, just about deserved the three points based on that alone. However, Raunds arguably had the better chances int he first half, and could have gone into the break in front. It's hard to see there being too much between these sides come May.
Raunds remain in seventh spot, but the result sees Corby jump up to eighth, two pints behind The Shopmates with a game in hand. Next week Stewart & Lloyds are back at home as they welcome ninth placed Higham Town to Occupation Road. Town are one place and two points behind the Foundrymen, but have played a game more. Raunds make the journey to Finedon Volta, who currently sit in 12th spot, just three points above bottom team Heyford Athletic.
Corby Stewart & Lloyds: Roberts, Evans, Kingston, S.Parker, E.Parker(c), Wilkinson, Robinson, Garvie, Tckiak, McWilliam, Callaghan. Subs: Lyons, Brown, Martin, Campbell
Raunds Town: Biggs, Pickford, Rice, Spaughton, Kew, Chubb, Cowley, Bell, Lovell(c), Watson, Wilson. Subs: Seago, Buckland, Gordan, Young
The view from the clubhouse
The Ground
Corby S&L play at the Steward & Lloyds Sports Club just off Occupation Road in the North-West of Corby. The large, sprawling complex is home to cricket, rugby and football. The football and rugby pitches are alongside each other, separated by an eight-foot high fence. There's a large car park near the entrance to the complex, but also parking around the side of the football ground and near the clubhouse, behind one of the goals. There is no spectator access to the side of the ground that is bordered by the fence and the rugby pitch. This side of the pitch also houses the dugouts. On the opposite side is a the main stand, a covered seating area set back from the pitch, separated from the playing surface by the access road. There is also covered standing behind the goal opposite the clubhouse end. The clubhouse is a two-storey affair that has the changing areas on the ground floor and a bar on the top floor. The bar also has a balcony area that looks out over the pitch. The playing surface slopes back towards the clubhouse end.
Ground Number: 465
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
Corby S&L play at the Steward & Lloyds Sports Club just off Occupation Road in the North-West of Corby. The large, sprawling complex is home to cricket, rugby and football. The football and rugby pitches are alongside each other, separated by an eight-foot high fence. There's a large car park near the entrance to the complex, but also parking around the side of the football ground and near the clubhouse, behind one of the goals. There is no spectator access to the side of the ground that is bordered by the fence and the rugby pitch. This side of the pitch also houses the dugouts. On the opposite side is a the main stand, a covered seating area set back from the pitch, separated from the playing surface by the access road. There is also covered standing behind the goal opposite the clubhouse end. The clubhouse is a two-storey affair that has the changing areas on the ground floor and a bar on the top floor. The bar also has a balcony area that looks out over the pitch. The playing surface slopes back towards the clubhouse end.
Ground Number: 465
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
Raunds attacking the clubhouse end
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