Stafford Rangers 3-5 Corby Town

Andy Hall struck a superb hat-trick as Corby Town returned to winning ways in style in the Blue Square Bet North.

In the lead-up to the game, the club announced Les Manning as the new chairman and welcomed Helen Thompson and Graham Starmer to the club as chief executive and director respectively.

And the new regime enjoyed a winning start.

Corby made the perfect start when Andy Hall curled home a fine shot from the recalled Steve Diggin's lay-off after only three minutes.

But Rangers equalised within five minutes when Danny Edwards beat the offside trap and his cross was knocked back across the goal by Andre Francis or Shane Benjamin to head home.

However, parity only lasted two minutes before Francis went from hero to villain as he headed Hall's corner into his own net.

But the explosive opening yielded another goal on 21 minutes when Benjamin equalised again, this time from the penalty spot, after Netan Sansara fouled Martyn Naylor in the box.

Both sides continued to look lively going forward and less than secure at the back.

But Corby looked the more likely as time went on and regained the lead for a third time on 42 minutes when Hall thumped home a header from Diggin's cross.

The second half did not begin with the same breathless intensity as the first, although Mark Dudley might have done better with a far-post volley from a corner on 55 minutes.

At the other end, Diggin showed him how it should be done on 64 minutes when he chested down a cross and slotted home to give Corby breathing space.

With the two-goal cushion, the Steelmen began to show some confidence with neat passing and movement that had Stafford chasing shadows at times.

The home side still posed a threat at times and Dean West had to make a superb challenge to stop Ben Mills pulling one back on 75 minutes.

But Hall made the points safe three minutes later when he completed his hat-trick from the spot after Dudley fouled Adam Webster.

In injury-time, Stafford pulled one back when Ben Mills followed up to score after Francis' shot hit the post.

But there was no denying Corby their victory.

Stafford: Evans; Naylor, Johnson, McAughtrie, Dudley; Reid, Francis, Kinsella (sub Mills, 69 mins), Edwards; Clarke (sub Moss, 69 mins), Benjamin. Subs not used: Campbell, Forde, Turner.

Corby: Mackenzie; West, Dolman (sub Charlton 67 mins), Gulliver, Sansara (sub Jaszczun, 56 mins); Hall (sub White, 83 mins), Hope, Towers, Jarman; Webster, Diggin. Subs not used: Ruddick, Drury.

Referee: Joe Hull

Goals: Hall (3 mins, 0-1), Benjamin (8 mins, 1-1), Francis og (10 mins, 1-2), Benjamin pen (21 mins, 2-2), Hall (42 mins, 2-3), Diggin (64 mins, 2-4), Hall pen (78 mins, 2-5), Mills (90 mins, 3-5).

Attendance: 432.