Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

CORBY TOWN 1 – 2 DROYLSDEN

F. A. Cup 4th QUALIFYING ROUND – Saturday 13 October 2007

Report by Gary Owen

The Bloods reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time since 1978 with this victory in Northamptonshire.

The ride, however, was not as comfortable as would have been desired, and things could have been much worse, but Paul Phillips pulled off a great save to deny the Steelmen's Darren Lynch after just 42 seconds.

From that point on, though, the remainder of the first half saw the Bloods in the supremacy, and nerves were settled after just ten minutes, when Dominic Hallows could only slice a clearance up in the air, leaving his keeper Steve Ryan stranded, and Terry Fearns made no mistake to put Droylsden 1-0 up.

In a rare foray forward, Wayne Diuk, who had once denied Droylsden in a Nationwide North play-off semi-final when turning-out for Kettering Town, found himself one-on-one with Phillips from Hallows' pass, but the Bloods' custodian proved why he is so good in those situations with a fine stop.

Fearns and Jody Banim then both had half-chances as the game continued to be played mostly in the Corby half of the field, and just after the half-hour mark, the Kent official spotted a deliberate handball in the Corby box, and Banim converted from the spot, sending Ryan the wrong way.

Credit to Corby, though, who made a real go of it after the break, and Lynch could have done better with a header from Steve Diggin's cross, but good pressure by the Droylsden defenders made it difficult for him.

On the hour, mark though, Lynch showed good strength to hold off the attentions of Garry Burke, but could then only shoot straight at Phillips.

Lynch and Diggin them both saw shots fly over the bar, and Lawrence Lambley shot wide from the edge of the box.

With time running-out for the hosts, Bloods' boss Dave Pace made a number of defensive substitutions, but it was finger-nail time on 90 minutes when home substitiute Lambley shot home through a crowded box following a corner kick.

However, the Bloods saw-out the four minutes of added time to book a first round place at Unibond Division One (North) outfit, Harrogate Railway Athletic in the First Round, which many view as a real chance to progress in this year's competition and to make history for the Market Street club.

TEAMS

CORBY TOWN: Ryan, Nicell, Hallows (Difante, 46), Gould, Bonner, Daly, Diuk, Scott (Lambley, 78), Lynch, Diggin, Wykes.

Subs. not used: Wilkinson, Cross.

DROYLSDEN: Phillips, Cryan, Murray, Halford, Burke, Murphy, McGuire, Warner, Banim (Salmon, 87), Fearns (Morris, 89), Denham (Roache, 85).

Subs. not used: Morris, Smith, Seniot (G/K).

REFREE: Mr. Ian Cooper (Rochester, Kent)

ATTENDANCE: 562