In what can be described as a classic game of two halves, Corby Town scored an 87th minute equaliser to share the points with Cambridge City on Saturday.

The visitors were very slow off the mark, finding themselves pinned back for most of the first half hour as Cambridge bombarded the area with a flurry of long throw-ins and corners.

The ever lively Josh Oyinsan saw an instinctive back flick header tipped over the bar by Dan George before finally breaking the deadlock on 19 minutes with a good turn on the edge of the area before striking low and hard past George.

Oyinsan was again unlucky not to add to his tally shortly after, just failing to get on the end of a dangerous free kick into the Corby box!

Corby really should have been level on 34 minutes, Jordan Francis with a great run and cut back which found Elliot Sandy, but good pressure from the home defence saw Sandy slide in and lift his effort over the bar!

Two minutes later it was Francis who found himself free at the back post but his first time volley cleared the crossbar.

The game then turned nasty on 40 minutes, Sam Squire was fouled by Connor Kennedy, and while both lay on the floor, Salim Relizani channeled his inner Steven Naismith and decided to stand tall over Kennedy and express his anger at the challenge. Ben Bradshaw rushed over to get Salim away from his team mate before the majority of both teams came over the settle the situation. This led to a caution for both Bradshaw and Relizani.

The next flashpoint came 2 minutes later, Jamie Anton clearing a long ball from the hosts, but was on the end of a nasty looking elbow from the hosts MOTM Josh Oyinsan. Referee Joshua Crofts issued another yellow card, when many of the travelling contingent believed a deliberate and dangerous elbow should have brought a red!

The half finished with Corby well on top, Anton getting on the end of a Bradshaw corner but his header was deflected wide by Sandy.

The second half started in the same way as the last 15 minutes of the first half, the Steelmen creating chances with the game also being broken up due to numerous niggly tackles.

On 57 minutes, Corby did have the ball in the net. Kennedy with the through ball, Sandy timing his run to perfection before sliding the ball past Gooch in the city goal. Celebrations though were short lived as the linesman believed that Sandy was offside, video evidence later showing this decision was incorrect!

City showed on 67 minutes that they were still awake, and should have gone two up, Sharman with a shot from 6 yards that was excellently saved by Dan George in the Corby goal.

This was then followed by a 2 minute spell of headloss from Salim Relizani! First, he tried shielding the ball out for a goal kick, but when he realised the ball was not going out, he turned and crossed into his own box, Crawford getting on the end of the knock down but shooting straight at Gooch.
Relizani was then peanlised for a late tackle on Bradshaw, and received his 2nd yellow of the match, leaving the hosts to see out the last 15 minutes with 10 men.

Kennedy, who was booked following a few choice words at the linesman following his incorrect offside call, was then in the thick of the action. After giving away a foul on the half way line, the hosts surrounded the ref demanding a second yellow. The fans were also on the back of the referee, who issued a final warning to the midfielder, who was then replaced by new signing Greg Ling.

On 80 minutes, the ever busy Ebby Nelson-Addy momentarily forgot where he was and tried catching a crawford effort just inside the area, the referee adjudging that it was ball to hand rather than hand ball.

Corby were well on top, efforts from Sandy and Bradshaw giving the hosts a few nervy moments before the goal the Steelmen deserved finally came.

On 87 minutes, Crawford and Warburton linked up well, with Warbs playing the ball into skipper Gary Mulligan! Mulligan took a touch before rolling the ball off to ELLIOT SANDY, who scored his first league goal of the season to bring Corby back level.

With Cambridge sitting deeper and deeper, Corby smelt blood and should have sealed all 3 points in the 92nd minute! Ling rose highest to get on the end of a corner from the right hand side, but his free header was over the bar. City ran the clock down, taking off Oyinsan in the 94th minute to a standing ovation.

Corby paid the price for a slow start, but manager Steve Kinniburgh will be happy that his team were well on top for the last hour, a point a fair result for both sides in the end!

Next up is the visit of Sutton Coldfield Town, relegated from the Northern Premier League last season and will be smarting following a 4-1 home defeat by Thame on the opening day of the season.

Picture courtesy of Mike Capps