Corby Town 2-2 Stalybridge Celtic

Not for the first time this season, Corby Town threw away a two-goal half-time lead as they were held 2-2 at home by Stalybridge Celtic in the Blue Square Bet North.

The Steelmen were in total control for over an hour in the game. But once Celtic pulled one back with 15 minutes left, there was almost an inevitability that they would go on to get at least a point from the game.

The Steelmen were quickly out of the blocks and might have scored inside 90 seconds when Glenn Walker's pass sent Adam Webster clear, but the keeper came out well to block the shot.

Moments later, Steve Towers fired narrowly wide on the follow-up after Walker's shot was saved.

Corby continued to press and Andy Hall forced another good save from Celtic keeper Jan Budtz just past the quarter-hour.

But from the resulting corner, Celtic's defenders went to sleep and Chris Hope was left unmarked at the far post to head home Nathan Jarman's cross.

The hosts were good value for their lead and nearly doubled their advantage on 31 minutes when Towers drove narrowly over.

However, that was merely a sighter for the midfielder as he then lashed home a superb second from 25 yards for the Steelmen on 43 minutes.

Stalybridge had been enjoying more possession up to that point but did little with it in the final third of the field, aside of knock several long balls forward that the Corby defence dealt with easily.

The opening period of the second half followed a similar pattern with Celtic having more possession but Corby creating the better chances, one of which Walker should have taken on the hour when he shot wide with only the keeper to beat.

And Corby were close again soon after when Hope – again unmarked – headed Hall's corner straight at the keeper.

However, as the half wore on, neither side looked like scoring until a simple through-ball sent Connor Jennings through to round the keeper and pull one back for Celtic.

The visitors then went close when Stephen Brogan fired just over the bar.

And Corby's Achilles heel of throwing away two-goal leads came to bear again five minutes from the end as Jennings' shot was helped over the line by Phil Marsh.

Corby: Butcher, West, Charlton, Hope, Gulliver, Fitzpatrick (sub Johnson, 80 mins), Hall, Towers, Webster (sub Diggin, 80 mins) Jarman, Walker (sub Sansara, 80 mins). Sub not used: Ruddick.

Stalybridge: Budtz, Rule, Meynell, Ryan, Platt, Brogan, Jennings (sub Austin, 90 mins), Rea (sub Kay, 71 mins), Marsh, Hobson (sub Elam, 71 mins), Warburton. Subs not used: Bembo-Leta, Davies.

Referee: Paul Forrester

Goals: Hope (16 mins, 1-0), Towers (43 mins, 2-0), Jennings (75 mins, 2-1), Marsh (85 mins, 2-2).

Attendance: 314

Listen To Manager Graham Drury's Post Match Reaction here at Corby Radio 96.3