Barton Rovers vs Corby Town

Southern Football League Central Division 1 on 24/10/2020

Promotion favourites Corby Town were the visitors to Sharpenhoe Road facing Rovers who’ve made a strong start to the season. The opening half was a cagey affair with little in the way of early scoring opportunities for either side. However, on 17 minutes home midfielder Dean Dummett had a glorious opportunity to put his side in front but failed to make his header powerful enough and Town keeper Craig Hill pulled off a super one-handed save at the expense of a Rovers corner which came to nothing. Nathan Tshikuna and Bradley Bell for Rovers had half chances to score but were wayward with their final efforts. With 27 minutes gone, Rovers took the lead following a trip on winger Victor Osubu and, from the resultant spot-kick striker forward Connor Vincent made no mistake with a powerful low drive to the keeper's right. Going behind sparked Town into life and Thomas Yorston had a couple of efforts at goal before the woodwork denied the away side an equaliser when Connor Furey’s bullet strike smacked a post and rebounded to safety. Half-time arrived with the homesters in front by the narrowest of margins.

Town began the second half on the front foot and they were level just five minutes in when James Tague fired low into the corner following a bout of pressure and Rovers unable to clear their lines. Town were on top and bossing the game and their superiority told when man of the match Jordan Crawford crashed home what proved to be the winning goal with 57 minutes played. Crawford was on fire and threatened again just minutes later but, this time, the shot lacked accuracy and trundled wide of the target. Home keeper Niall Cooper had to be at his best when he got down at full stretch to grab another Crawford goal attempt on 68 minutes. Crawford might have made the game secure for Town but yet another point-blank Cooper save denied him a second goal with just 15 minutes remaining. Rovers persevered but were unable to create a decisive opening or an equaliser thanks to some fine defensive work in the Town ranks. On their second-half showing Town deserved the three points but Rovers will rue a first-half where the single goal was scant reward for their efforts.

Final Score: Barton Rovers 1 (Vincent Pen 27) Corby Town 2 ( Tague 52, Crawford 57)

Attendance: 202

Barton Rovers Team: Cooper, Jibodu (Palmer 87), Ward, Smith, Phelan, Thomas, Osobu, Dummett, Vincent (Burnett 67), Tshikuna, Bell (Regis 76).

Corby Town Team: Hill, Robinson, White, Duffy, Sandy, Mulligan, Tague, Westwood, Furey (McParland 67), Yorston (Gee 87), Crawford.