Internet Foxes 5-5 The Shoemakers - A Sky Sports Thriller!
The Sky Sports cameras were present to capture action from the Shoemakers' trip to Leicester ahead of the Gillingham home game. Previous meetings have seen 4-3 and 6-1 scorelines in favour of the Internet Foxes and the third meeting between the two sides also proved to be a goal fest.
With both teams playing up to the cameras featuring the Cobblers on "The Big League Weekend" programme, it was a scrappy opening few minutes to the game, but the home side took the early initiative and opened the scoring on five minutes.
With ten minutes gone it was 1-1, a long throw from Richard Fletcher was flicked on by Anthony Collett and Ian Errington steered the ball home from close range. Within a minute, the Shoemakers had the lead, Luis Pereira tore down the left hand side and cut the ball back to Richard Fletcher who slotted the ball home with Mark Kennedy stepping over it on its way into the net.
There was no let up in the action and shortly before half time, the Foxes equalised, the ball took a cruel deflection off Simon Sidwell and flew into the top corner.
After an action packed first half, it was clear that more goals would follow in the second period, but it only took the home side 30 seconds to register the next score, a free header giving Russ Rainbow absolutely no chance.
On the hour it was 3-3, Chris Brown's corner was partially cleared, but Chris Marriott smashed an unstoppable volley into the top corner before celebrating in front of the TV cameras.
Sean Bellham then made it 4-3 only minutes later, he was in the right place at the right time to volley home Chris Brown's cross.
With about 15 minutes left, Chris Brown again supplied another telling cross and Sandy Gibson tried his luck with an audacious overhead kick, the ball hit Chris Marriott and flew into the net leaving the keeper stranded.
At 5-3, the game looked safe for the Shoemakers, but a lapse in concentration from a corner left a Foxes forward with a free header to give the home side late hope. The goal proved to be more than a consolation as a low shot from the edge of the area provided an equaliser only moments later and took the goal total for the afternoon to ten.
Both sides had further chances and Mark Kennedy almost won it in the final minute, but his outside of the foot volley from Richard Fletcher's sublime pass dropped just the wrong side of the post.
There won't have been many times when a ten goal thriller has been featured on Sky Sports, but both teams certainly played their part in a breathtaking game that was certainly a pleasure to be a part of.
Mark Kennedy
Squad - Russ Rainbow, James Averill, Simon Sidwell, Steve Marley, Mark Kennedy, Anthony Collett, Sean Bellham, Dale Smith, Luis Pereira, Richard Fletcher, Ian Errington - Chris Brown, Chris Marriott, Sandy Gibson
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