Jack Keeble’s header in the 62nd minute was the difference between the two sides.

This defeat means we will spend another year in the Northern Premier League – Midlands Division.

Brad Munn made multiple changes to the side that lost to AFC Rushden & Diamonds in the league on Saturday.

Lewis King took up his role as our goalkeeper.

Ryan Campbell-Gordon and Owen Betts filled our full back spots with Jayden Cotterill and Gianluca Bucci as the centre backs.

Callum Cocks moved back into midfield alongside Andrew Wright and Connor Pace.

Liam Loughlan was named on the left wing with James Taylor on the opposite flank, and Evan Garnett in the central attacking role.

Dexter Walters, Jamie Hanson, Omotolani Omotola, Tristan Thompson Matthews, and James Shaw all began on the bench.

The game started fast with Corby attacking straight from the off.

Betts was booked within seven minutes after a bad tackle.

We sat back and countered fast, and it almost worked as in the 28th minute, we had a great chance to snatch the lead. Garnett held up the ball well and played Taylor through, he got his shot away, but the angle was too tight, and it hit the side netting.

Just before the half-time break, King was booked for dissent.

The second half saw the Blues push harder for the opener as we came out with more intensity and a different tactic.

Cocks had arguably the closest chance of the game for us as his free-kick almost caught the Corby keeper off guard. It curled away from the goal and almost nestled into the inside netting, but it went out instead for a goal kick.

Just after the hour mark, Corby had their goal. A corner into the box was met by Keeble who headed the ball into the goal from close range.

King was called into action in the 72nd minute as he pulled off a brilliant save at the back post.

Our first substitute came in the 74th minute as Pace was replaced by Shaw.

Tristan entered the pitch in the 82nd minute for Wright.

Our final sub came in the 89th minute with Taylor being replaced by Dexter Walters.

Cocks was booked in the 95th minute and seconds later, the final whistle sounded and the game was finished.

We gave it our all, but it was not our night.

Onto the 2025/26 season, YouBlues!

Match report: Damion Arnold
Match photos: Richard Gadsby
Match highlights: Damion Arnold