Despite the final scoreline Corby Town gave a good account of themselves away to Brackley Town in the opening Newlands Shield fixture on Tuesday July 13th. It was only in the latter stages that the Vanarama National League North side put daylight between themselves and the Steelmen.
The game was especially memorable for a trialist wearing Brackley's number eleven shirt as he struck a hat-trick.
Corby's 6' 5" tall goalkeeper Joe O'Shaugnessy - an 18-year-old from Wolverhampton Wanderers - had already made a number of impressive saves before Brackley took a 27th minute lead. The trialist winger was sent clear by Matt Lowe and he blasted an unstoppable shot in-off the crossbar.
Corby were undeterred by this set back and drew level just ten minutes later. Kamy Apindia played a ball from the left wing inside to Steve Diggin on the edge of the area and he laid it off to Jordan O'Brien who scored his third goal in two pre-season games.
Brackley regained the lead in the 63rd minute when Lowe crossed first time from the right and Brad Rolt turned the ball in.
In the 70th minute the home side's unnamed trialist struck a low shot which evaded the fingers of the diving O'Shaugnessy and nestled in the bottom corner of the net and nine minutes later he rounded the 'keeper to complete his hat trick from a narrow angle.

CORBY TOWN:- Joe O'Shaugnessy; Callum Westwood (Oliver Gee), Kamy Apindia Gille; Gary Mulligan, Elliot Sandy (Zac Green), Jake Hoult; Jude Brittain (Ross McParland), Jake Duffy, Jordan O'Brien, Steve Diggin, James Tague.