Darlaston Town made the long trip to Northamptonshire seeking to avenge a 4-1 home defeat to Corby back in October. Sitting in second spot Corby were always going to be a tough nut to crack and that is exactly how it turned out.

At the impressive Steel Park ground, 691 supporters witnessed this encounter with both teams still hopeful of a play-off spot.

The home side had the better of the opening stages, spurred on by a vociferous and passionate crowd, Darlaston were put under significant pressure. Reuben Marshall and Daniel Gordon were impressive on both flanks giving the visitors young full backs Hayden Carson and Harry Chesterton a difficult time. The division's leading goal scorer Fletcher Toll and Tendai Daire combined well on several occasions to create some good half chances. Daire's header saved by keeper Stan Amos and Marshall shooting over the bar from 22 yards. Despite having plenty of possession and applying pressure on the visitors the home side were thwarted by a hardworking and resolute central defensive pairing of Alex Foreshaw and Ben Podmore, returning after injury.

Corby were playing some neat passing football on a surface which was starting to cut up but were finding clear chances hard to come by. Several free kicks came to nothing whilst several long throws of Joel Carta were defended well by an over worked Darlaston defence. The visitors created little of note in the first half, home keeper Ross Durrant rarely troubled.

Darlaston manager Dean Gill made two tactical half time substitutions. Kieran Cook and Rivel Mardenborough coming on to pose more of an attacking threat. The substitutions paid an immediate dividend, Mardenborough won the ball deep in his own half before passing to Ryan Winwood. Winwood found Aaron Bishop whose cross-field pass was only partially stopped by a Corby defender, the ball falling to Jake Pearson who slipped the ball to Chesterton on the left flank. Chesterton's cross finding Mardenborough who had made a 70 yard run into the box to steer the ball home from 12 yards, with a sublime finish.

The goal gave Darlaston a degree of confidence and the second half was a much more evenly contested affair.

Darlaston keeper Amos picking up a groin strain which needed attention on three occasions, restricting his kicking.

Neither side were creating any clear-cut chances, neither keeper unduly troubled other than a fine save by Amos from a Toll header.

Both midfields’ were working tremendously hard. The pitch cutting up further meant passes were going astray. neither side having a sustained period of possession or pressure.

Darlaston doubled their lead on 83 minutes. Some excellent work by Mitch Botfield down the left, saw him beat two defenders, before he cut back from near the by line, his driven cross rebounding into the path of Pearson for him to score from close range.

As the game moved into its closing stages, Corby pushed forward looking for the elusive goal that would bring them back into the game. Dobson's 18 yard shot was comfortably saved by Amos but a goal in the first minute of six minutes added time set up a rousing finish. Darlaston failed to clear their lines, the ball driven back into the box by Matthew Slinn, debutant Gary Stohrer first to react, steering the ball beyond Amos from 6 yards.

The visitors held on well to close out the final minutes, to record a hard fought away win against a top class side.

The win means Darlaston are now unbeaten in six games.

Next up is a return to the Paycare Stadium next Saturday when The Citizens will face a local derby against Boldmere St. Michaels rearranged from New Years Day.

We hope to see many supporters from both clubs