Rovers outfought

Kempston came in to this game after Tuesday’s solid performance at Dunstable Town making one change to the starting line-up, seeing young Evan Beldon making his first league start for the club after impressing as a sub in recent weeks. A key figure in last season’s double winning under 18 side, Evan is one of a number of young players to have made a breakthrough this season.

The game started in a lively fashion, with the visitors keen to make their presence felt. Ten minutes into the contest and Rovers had a glorious chance, Scott Joseph raced clear of a static back line and look for all the world as if he would open the scoring, but a last ditch tackle from veteran skipper Gary Mulligan thwarted the Kempston front man, the ball wasn’t cleared properly and a little bit of penalty box pinball ensued, the ball eventually going wide after being cannoned into the legs of Nathan Tshikuna. Jordan Wright saw a header saved from a corner before Ben Shepherd fed Joseph on the edge of the box. Joseph turned and fired goalward, requiring a deflection to carry it wide. The early Rovers dominance was for naught, as with their first meaningful effort on goal, Corby scored. A long, punted ball down field bounced awkwardly for the Rovers back line, allowing Stephen Diggin to nip in and opportunistically loft the ball over the advancing James Martin on the stroke of the quarter hour. After the goal, Rovers continued to press, Shane Bush tested Dan George in the visitors’ goal with a stinging shot, parried for a corner then Nathan Tshikuna curled a dangerous free kick wide. Ten minutes before the break, Joel Carta went to ground in the area. A large section of Corby support behind the goal were baying for a penalty but the referee was unmoved. A second goal did come for the visitors, shortly before half time. A deep cross from McWilliams wasn’t dealt with effectively and Crawford’s shot was deflected out to Carta who drove through a succession of bodies to beat the unsighted Martin.

Rovers were forced into a change at the break, Cameron Hyde suffering a shoulder injury during a challenge with an opponent in the first half was unable to continue. Barely six minutes into the half and the change of shape payed dividends for Kempston. A long raking pass from Nathan Tshikuna found Scott Joseph bustling with two Corby defenders, the forward lifted a beautiful left-footed lobbed half volley from outside the area into the opposite top corner, Dan George managed to get finger tips to the shot but could do little more than help it into the net. After the goal, the game became attritional in midfield with neither side keeping the composure on the ball needed to break the other down. As Corby began to press forward more, Evan Beldon tangled with Crawford on the edge of the box. The referee deemed it to be worthy of a spot kick. Leading marksman Elliot Sandy stepped up and dispatched the penalty calmly to restore the visitors two goal lead. James Martin produced a fine save to deny Crawford moments later after Sandy had been denied by a Jordan Wright challenge. With fifteen minutes to go, Scott Joseph was put clear down the left, bursting infield and leaving his marker behind him. Unfortunately for Rovers, his finish didn’t match his superb build up play. Corby could’ve added a gloss to the scoreline in stoppage time as McWilliams broke away, but dallied on the ball in the area, allowing Rovers to get bodies back to cover and the chance was gone.

Defeat, Rovers third in thirteen games stretching back to before Christmas, keeps them in sixteenth place in the table ahead of next weekend’s visit of Cambridge City.