In a decisive league encounter at Occupation Road, Stewarts & Lloyds, Corby Stewart & Lloyds U12 Irons faced off against Kettering Town Community U12 Black on 23 February 2025. The match kicked off at 9:30 am and concluded with a resounding 4-0 victory for the visitors, leaving the home side with much to ponder.
Corby Stewart & Lloyds adopted a 3-4-1 formation, designed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for fluid attacking transitions. Danielius Vitochinas took his place in goal, shielded by a back three comprising Balin Stewart on the right, Kaiden Lloyd in the centre, and Riley Clark on the left. The midfield quartet featured Harry Kelly on the right, Cody Wykes and Jak Taylor centrally, and Jude Walker on the left, with Liam Gartshore leading the line as the lone striker. This setup aimed to balance defensive responsibilities with the need to support Gartshore in attack.
The substitutes for Corby included Shay Murphy, Bobby Thomson, Rory Miles, and George Davis, who would be called upon to inject fresh energy into the game as needed.
The match began with Kettering Town asserting their dominance early on, and it was not long before they found the back of the net. In the 13th minute, the visitors scored their first goal, taking a crucial lead that set the tone for the remainder of the match. Corby struggled to respond effectively, with Kettering's pressure mounting as the first half progressed.
As the game approached the midway point, Corby made their first substitutions in the 25th minute, bringing on Shay Murphy for Cody Wykes and Bobby Thomson for Jude Walker. These changes were intended to inject some much-needed creativity and energy into the midfield, but Kettering continued to control the game.
The first half concluded with Kettering leading 1-0, but the second half began with a swift blow to Corby's hopes. Just one minute after the restart, Kettering struck again, doubling their advantage in the 31st minute. The home side's defence was beginning to show cracks, and Kettering capitalised on this, scoring their third goal in the 35th minute, leaving Corby reeling at 3-0.
In an attempt to change the tide, Corby made further substitutions in the 40th minute, introducing Rory Miles for Balin Stewart and George Davis for Jak Taylor. However, the visitors remained relentless, and Corby’s struggles were compounded when they made another change shortly after, with Cody Wykes returning to replace Liam Gartshore and Jude Walker coming on for Harry Kelly in the 44th minute.
Despite the fresh legs on the pitch, Kettering's momentum was unyielding. In the 53rd minute, they added a fourth goal, sealing a comprehensive victory that highlighted their attacking prowess and Corby's defensive frailties.
The match concluded with Kettering Town Community U12 Black celebrating a well-deserved 4-0 triumph, leaving Corby Stewart & Lloyds U12 Irons to reflect on a challenging performance and the need for improvement in their upcoming fixtures.
