Our play-off campaign begins with a trip to Corby Town on Tuesday night. Our 1-0 loss to AFC Rushden & Diamonds on Saturday afternoon meant we finished the season in fifth position, confirming a play-off tie with second-placed Corby.

This play-off semi-final is only one leg, meaning your support on Tuesday night will be a huge helping hand. You are the 12th player!

Anstey Nomads vs Worcester City, the other play-off semi-final, is also being played on Tuesday night.

Let the play-offs commence!

Corby Town - The rundown:

The Steelmen finished this season in the Northern Premier League – Midlands Division in second place.

They finished the season on 85 points, still 18 points off of runaway champions, Quorn.

Corby Town have won 14 of their 20 games at Steel Park this season, whilst drawing two and losing four.

The Steelmen did not lose a league game until the 9th of October when Quorn travelled to Steel Park and came out 2-0 winners.

They lost four games in five around late November and early December, these losses coming against Coleshill Town, Sporting Khalsa, Loughborough Students and Hinckley LRFC. This period proving costly in their hunt for the league title.

Corby Town only lost one of their last ten league games, this came against Worcester City a few weeks back.

Face-to-face this season:

Saturday 19th October 2024 - Corby Town 7-0 Long Eaton United

Goals: Neo Dobson (2’), Fletcher Toll (9’, 23’, 52’), Callum Milne (13’), Reuben Marshall (88’, 90+6’)

We travelled to Steel Park in mid-October and were beaten by seven goals. An uncharacteristic performance from the Blues was punished. However, a revitalised Long Eaton side will not be pushed over on Tuesday night. Fletcher Toll scored a hat-trick on this occasion, he scored 32 in the league this season.

Saturday 15th February 2025 – Long Eaton United 3-2 Corby Town

Goals: Long Eaton United – James Taylor (22’, 27’), Gianluca Bucci (58’)

Corby Town – Rory McAuley (5’), Fletcher Toll (53’)

We secured all three points when Corby travelled to the Family Only Stadium in the middle of February. The Steelmen took an early lead after a goal from Rory McAuley in the fifth minute. However, we turned the game on it’s head thanks to goals in quick succession from James Taylor. The game was back level in the 53rd minute after Fletcher Toll scored but the win was sealed when Gianluca Bucci scored our winner in the 58th minute. What a moment!

This win was the third of our nine-game winning streak.

So both sides have one win over each other going into the biggest game of the season yet.

Brad and his side will make sure to do everything on the night so that it is the Blues who advance.

Current Form:

Corby Town sit at the top of the form guide, taking 15 points from a possible 18 in their last six league matches.

The Steelmen won three on the bounce as they took three points in each of their games against Sporting Khalsa, Sutton Coldfield Town and Grantham Town.

Corby were then involved in a thriller as they travelled away to Worcester City on Saturday the 19th of April. Fletcher Toll scored a penalty in the 76th minute which took them into a 3-1 lead. However a Felix Miles penalty in the 81st minute began the comebacks of all comebacks for Worcester. Zach Guinan equalised in the 88th minute before Kyle Belmonte scored a winner for Worcester City in the 91st. An unreal spectacle.

Corby then won their last two games of the season beating AFC Rushden & Diamonds and Boldmere St Michaels by four goals to nil.

As for the Blues, we sit in 15th place in the form guide.

We have taken six points from a possible eighteen after wins against Rugby Town and Grantham Town.

Losses have come against Racing Club Warwick, Coleshill Town, Sporting Khalsa and AFC Rushden & Diamonds.

We have a fully fit squad heading into this play-off semi-final against Corby Town.

Brad speaks ahead of Tuesday night:

“I know exactly what Corby are going to want to do in terms of how to target us.”

“There aren’t any secrets from them about that as well. But we are going to take the game to them, that is one thing we are going to do.”

“And if we are going to go into these play-offs , we are going to go and do it exactly how we’ve been doing things this year.”

“We are going to take it to them, we are going to play our game and may the best team come out on top.”

This is it then, Blues.

The play-offs.

We want to thank everyone for their support throughout this season but we need one last push as the boys set their eyes on promotion!

Tuesday night. One to write history.

Match preview: Sam Hargrave