Match Report by Lewis Howarth

Over 720 supporters arrived at Steel Park in anticipation for the biggest game in the Pitching In Northern Premier League so far this season. Corby Town and Worcester City both sat first and second in the league respectively heading into an early season crunch encounter.

The game started as a rather cagey affair. Both teams were pressing heavily, forcing mistakes and making it difficult to create any clear cut chances. Despite this, Corby made their first chance of the game count after eight minutes when Fletcher Toll was played in behind by a long ball, and he lobbed City debutant Bennett in goal to open the scoring. Nine minutes later Corby came close to a second when a deep cross from Daniel Gordon picked out Toll, whose effort bounced into the hands of Bennett.

Hayden Reeves found himself with a yellow card in the 37th minute when he was beaten to a loose ball for a slide tackle on the opposition, a moment that would prove crucial later in the match.

Corby remained on top for the majority of the first half, and the closest City came to an equaliser came in the fifth minute of added time, when Belmonte slipped Elliott Harltey through on goal, but his effort was blocked and the referee almost immediately blew for half time.

It was only three minutes into the second half when City’s day went from bad to worse. A shot from O’Brien reached the hands of Bennett, but the ball slipped through the hands of City's debutant keeper, and bobbled into the back of the net, doubling Corby’s lead. The second half continued to be an untidy game with neither team creating any clear cut chances and both struggling to keep hold of possession. In an attempt to get City back into the game, a double substitution was made with Guinan and Owens replacing Lockett and Reid.

Following the changes City began to grow into the game. In the 70th minute Elliot Keightley picked out Nathan Hayward on the edge of the box, who’s volley drifted wide of the post. Frustrations began to rise when Elliot Hartley burst forward on the counter only to be dragged down by a Corby Town defender, resulting in a yellow card.

Any hopes of a City comeback were all but ended in the 82nd minute, when a long ball from Reeves to find Will Owens was stopped by the referee, as he reached into his pocket to give Reeves his second yellow of the game for dissent.

Corby almost got their third of the game just after, when Tristan Thompson-Mathews fired his effort into the bottom corner forcing Bennett into a great save to push the ball out for a corner. With City having only three defenders and Charlie Wise seemingly carrying a knock, they failed to create any more clear chances and were defeated 2-0. That result marks City's first league defeat in over 12 months, and they remain second in the league, seven points behind Corby with two games in hand.

With Darlaston having a midweek FA Cup replay, City's next match will be this coming Saturday, when they face Hinckley in the FA Trophy.