Corby Town 2-2 Fleet Town

Dr Martens Eastern

Match Report by Steve Cantle

Fleet's recent run of defeats finally came to an end on Saturday when they picked up a point at Corby, but so nearly made it all three.

Two goals ahead with only two minutes of the match remaining, lapses in concentration allowed the home side to snatch two goals inside two minutes and deny Fleet their deserved victory.

With other results going against Fleet at the weekend, Saturday's result leaves them bottom of the Eastern Division table for the first time this season.

Manager, Mick Catlin was pleased with his side's performance, but couldn't hide his bitter disappointment with the final result.

"We played well and were the better side for 88 minutes of the match. But we showed a lack of experience at the end by conceding those two goals," Catlin said after the match.

"Obviously we are disappointed. It feels like we lost the match, after being in such a strong position. But its hard to find fault with the performance overall. There was just a crucial lack of concentration at the end," Catlin added.

The manager made two changes from the side that lost at home to Bashley on New Year's Day. Ben Tiller replaced Nick Clark, who had picked up an injury to his back in the Bashley game, and Catlin recalled Steve May to replace Calvin Sparshatt in goal.

Once again Fleet started confidently and took the lead with their first attack on 9 minutes. The move was started by a fine run down the right by new signing, striker, Richard Mealey, whose cross was knocked on by Steve Black for wingman, Shaun Hale to volley into the top corner, for his 11th
goal of the season.

May was kept busy at the other end, saving well on a couple of occasions, without being seriously troubled.

Fleet continued to dominate after the break and extended their lead on 75 minutes when striker, Craig Leworthy found the net with a powerful shot from the edge of the 18 yard box.

Fleet looked to be cruising to victory until with two minutes remaining, a poor clearance by the Fleet defence provided sub striker, Richard Moore with a chance to score from a tight angle.

Then with just seconds remaining, Corby skipper, Lee Vallance hit a fierce drive which May couldn't quite hang on to and the resulting scramble saw the ball roll into the net for the fortunate equaliser.

Fleet Town: May, Buckland, Millerick, Tiller, Jeffery, Saunders, Black,Hare, Mealey, Leworthy, Hale. Subs (not used): Smith, Whitcher, Scammell, Kendall, Sparshatt.