Corby Town 3-1 Gainsborough Trinity

Corby Town returned to winning ways in the Blue Square Bet North with this comfortable success. Two goals from Steve Towers and a first for the club for Nathan Jarman were enough for the Steelmen as they bounced back from conceding early to be the better side for much of the time.

Gainsborough may be struggling in the league but they were out of the blocks quickly in this game as an unmarked Gavin Cowan headed them in front from Ryan Williams' cross after only niune minutes.

Corby's attempts equalise were led by the unlikely source of central defender Chris Hope who headed wide from a good positon on 17 minutes and the looped another effort wide soon after.

However, on 24 minutes, the Steelmen were level when Steve Diggin's pass was latched on to by Towers, who had made a great run from midfield, to slot home.

But Trinity were unlucky not to be back in front before half-time when another Williams cross was headed against the bar by Mark Greaves.

Instead, Corby grabbed the lead five minutes after half-time from the same combination that provided the first as Diggin's pass found Towers, who neatly lobbed the ball home.

And the Steelmen were nearly in again just before the hour but Andy Hall's low cross just eluded Ben Mackey.

Trinity continued to threaten sporadically and Chris Mackenzie had to be alert to deal with shots from Ryan Kendall and Ryan Williams.

Twenty minutes from time, Trinity boss Brian Little sent on former Steelman Leon Mettam to find an eqauliser.

And the former Corby man almost provided the goods on 79 minutes as he hassled Phil Gulliver into prodding past his own keeper, only for Richard Lavery to get back and brilliantly clear off the line.

And his efforts were rewarded five minutes from time as substitute Jarman seized upon a poor header from Cowan and rounded the keeper before rolling the ball home.

Corby: Mackenzie, Pitham, Gulliver, Hope, Charlton; Hall, Lavery, Towers, Walker; Diggin (sub Jarman, 76 mins), Mackey (sub Webster 69 mins). Subs not used: West, Dolman, Green.

Gainsborough: Barnes; D Williams, Boyce, Cowan, Robinson; Clarke (sub Peat, 72 mins), Greaves sub Hume 82 mins); Aiston, McMahon (sub Mettam, 72 mins), R Williams; Kendall. Subs not used: Davies, Mayo.

Referee: Alan Parker

Goals: Cowan (9 mins, 0-1), Towers (24 mins, 1-1), Towers (50 mins, 2-1), Jarman (85 mins, 3-1).

Attendance: 443

By John Smith (Evening Telegraph)