League leaders Corby Town made the long trip back to Northamptonshire with three points, the scoreline flattering them a little and not reflecting the game as a whole.

Corby Town manager Gary Setchell summed up the game to Corby Town TV far better than I can. On the pitch immediately after the game he said after being posed the question "it was a slow start today Setchell gave a superbly honest and open response " I think you have to give credit to Darlaston as well. I thought they were absolutely superb first half. they didn't let us breathe, they didn't let us play, they squeezed the life out of us, they won every contact, they won every personal battle all over the pitch and how we went in 1-1 I will never know. We could have gone in 3 or 4- 0 with ease. They could've scored from 2 or 3 set pieces which we are normally very strong at, they opened us up a couple of times and at the end of the day we have managed to go in 1-1 and we can reset then. We started the second half a little bit better but the difference between the teams was the subs, they all affected the game."

The game itself was played in bright sunshine, on a superb playing surface in front of a crowd just shy of 200, bolstered by a boisterous and joyous Corby Town contingent. The crowd were treated to an excellent game of football by two very good teams giving their all for their club. The players an absolute credit to both management teams and to their club.

The first chance of the game fell to James Rowland but his tamely hit shot was comfortably saved by keeper Ross Durrant.

On 10 minutes the home side suffered an enormous blow losing skipper and central defensive kingpin Alex Foreshaw to injury after landing awkwardly. With fellow central defender Ben Podmore suspended, this meant that Darlaston only had one recognised central defender in teenager Sam Smith. Last season's top goalscorer Aaron Bishop reverted to centre half, Leo Wood coming on as substitute.

Darlaston took the lead on 16 minutes from the penalty spot. After forcing consecutive corners, the second taken by Lewis Gill, was handled in the area by Callum Milne, resulting in the immediate award of a penalty. James Rowland stepped up to convert comfortably.

Darlaston then enjoyed a dominant spell where they could and should have extended their lead. Rivel Mardenborough twice, Rowland, Kieran Cook and Leo Wood having efforts blocked, saved or going wide. As the game progressed Darlaston were to rue their missed chances.

Corby demonstrated why they are league leaders. Milne and former Cambridge United defender Rory McAuley blocked and denied the home side at every opportunity whilst Northampton Town loanee Neo Dobson and the pacey Matthew Slinn impressed.

The equaliser came against the run of play on 37 minutes. A cross into the box wasn't dealt with by the home defence, the ball falling to Fletcher Tool who laid it off to Dobson to curl the ball into keeper Storers' bottom right hand corner from 12 yards.

The second half started pretty much as the first half ended, evenly and fiercely contested. Neither side creating any clear early chances, although you could see Corby getting more and more into the game. The introduction of substitute Reuben Marshall turning the game on 65 minutes. Within minutes of coming on, Marshall put his side ahead. A Tristan Thompson Matthews precision crossfield pass found Marshall in space, he cut inside to drill the ball hard and low underneath keeper Storer.

Darlaston threw caution to the wind striker Tyler Bruck replacing defender Sam Smith as Darlaston played the remaining 25 minutes without a recognised central defender and playing 4 men up front. Unfortunately the more and more Darlaston pushed forward for the equaliser the more fragmented at the back they became eventually paying the price conceding two goals in the last ten minutes, Fletcher Toll netting twice within a minute, the first from a penalty and the second a close range goal after keeper Storer had parried a Jordan Young shot into the striker's path.

The final scoreline flattered the visitors a little, but their second half performance in particular epitomised why they sit four points clear at the top of the table.

After the game Darlaston boss Dean Gill reflected " I absolutely loved it today. I am equally as happy with my players and their performance as I am disappointed with losing the game 4-1, but it is days and games like today that make all the time energy and effort on and off the pitch worthwhile. I am loving our performances and loving this league. The managers and clubs have been great so far.

Firstly, what a top group of people Corby Town are. I had never met Gary (Setchell - manager) or his management team before today. What a top bunch of men they are. Class from the minute they arrived until the minute they left. Top group of players, hard working well organised and full of quality and played the game in the right spirit. Then there were their supporters, WOW. They helped create a great atmosphere today and were impeccable in their support of their team throughout.

You can see why Corby are top of the league and have lost only once in 14 league games. They have a top manager, quality players and fantastic support, that is a potent mixture. Some people will say they were not at their best today. That is because we did not allow them to be, people should give us credit for that. I know their manager and players do. They withstood an awful lot of pressure from us, particularly in the first half, stood up to it, were superbly organised and came out strong in the second half and were very clinical in their finishing. Their substitutions affected the game more than ours and changed the course of the game in the final 25 minutes or so. Before that either team could've won. I cannot speak highly enough of everyone from Corby Town today.

Now to my players and club. I could not be any prouder of my players and the club today. Before a ball had been kicked this season, according to many of the critics and non-league forums we were relegation fodder. Well, we are proving them all wrong and today, despite the scoreline, we gave an en excellent Corby side a good run for their money, our first half performance was stunning. With better finishing we could have been two or three goals to the good. We weren't and we paid the price in the second half, we will keep learning from that and work to put it right. If we play like that regularly we will be absolutely fine. We will not be playing sides as good as Corby Town every week. People looking at the scoreline will say Corby thumped us today. Gary (Setchell - Corby manager) and I and everyone at the game know that was not the case. Off the field the volunteers are working their socks off and are getting tremendous feedback from visiting teams, supporters and officials. I am as equally proud of them as I am of my players."