Jordan Smith

Corby Town hit Ian Walker's Bishop's Stortford for six in the Blue Square Bet North, in the first competitive fixture at Steel Park. 

The Steelmen dominated from kick-off and thoroughly deserved their resounding victory, which sees Drury's charges claim pole position in the league.

James Ozmen opened the scoring, his 19th minute header becoming the first ever competitive goal scored at Steel Park. Left-back Aynsley McDonald’s high floated ball was knocked back across the penalty area by Matt Rhead and duly nodded in at the near post by midfielder Ozmen.

Volume intensified at Steel Park after the opening goal, the crowd sensing a weakness in Stortford’s defence. They didn’t have to wait long for the second with Jordan Smith scoring just five minutes later. 

Midfielder Andy Burgess, a thorn in Bishop's Stortford’s side all evening, managed to twist and turn his way into the visitors penalty area. After beating two defenders he managed to get a shot in only to see it pushed away by Joe Wright. Fortunately for the Steelmen the ball landed at the feet of Jordan Smith who made no mistake in scoring the rebound. 

Matt Rhead then went on to grab his first competitive goal for Corby Town ten minutes later. Standing just outside the Stortford penalty area, Burgess whipped in a free-kick from the right. The Bishop’s defence completely misjudged the flight of the ball and could only watch as Rhead drilled the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.

Walker's men responded quickly and soon had a goal of their own to celebrate. Striker Michael Bakare was first onto a flick-on from midfield and managed to steer the ball around Chris Mackenzie.

However Corby were even quicker to respond and Smith had his second of the night, and third of the season, merely 60 seconds later. Burgess turned provider again as his high ball towards the back-post only needed to be nodded in from close range. 

Not content with scoring four first-half goals, the Steelmen continued to press with the introduction of the second forty-five. Their domination was rewarded once again when Rhead popped up at the far post, heading home an Andy Burgess corner in the 58^th minute.

Burgess sealed a brilliant performance when he grabbed a goal of his own on the hour mark.  His name-sake Andy Hall threaded an incisive pass straight through the Bishop’s Stortford defence from the centre of midfield, inviting a touch from a man in white. Burgess obliged and slotted the ball down low to the goalkeepers left to round off a breath-taking Corby Town performance.

Corby Town: Mackenzie, McDonald (sub Malone, 68 mins) Mayo, Gordon, Gulliver, Ozmen (sub Ives, 60 mins) Hall, Towers (sub Hibbert, 63 mins) Rhead, Smith, Burgess. Subs not used: Jones, Rogan

Bishop’s Stortford: Wright, Jeffries, Anderson, Abdulahi (sub Prestedge, h-t), Habu, Essam, Cole, Rance, Gayle, Shulton, Bakare. Subs not used: Hahn, Read, Dadson, Calver

Referee: Gavin Muge

Goals: Ozmen (21 mins, 1-0), Smith (26 mins, 2-0), Rhead (35 mins, 3-0), Bakare (41 mins, 3-1), Smith (42 mins, 4-1), Rhead (59 mins, 5-1), Burgess (61 mins, 6-1).

Att: 827