Corby Town got back to winning ways as they gained revenge for a 3-2 defeat at Didcot in December by beating the Oxfordshire club by the same score at Steel Park. The Steelmen gave a debut to new signing Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinsin up front with Greg Ling dropping to the bench and Joel Carta playing a deeper midfield role.
The newcomer gave a promising performance and in the opening minutes had two efforts on goal blocked.
It was the visitors who took the lead in the fifteenth minute, however. Dan George and Delroy Gordon cleared two crosses but from the third by Adam Learoyd defender Luke Carnell rose unchallenged on the edge of the six yard box to head in.
Corby didn't waste time on an inquest on who should have picked up the big centre half and were level just four minutes later. Sam Warburton won a corner on the left and Jordon Crawford's flag kick was missed by goalkeeper Leigh Bedwell as it sailed straight into the net. Goals direct from corners are pretty rare but Corby have now managed it twice in the space of a few weeks.
Carta had two attempts on goal as the first half drew to a close but after being fed by Crawford his first effort from an angle was saved at the near post by Bedwell and his second was hit high over the bar.
The visitors had two further chances in the first half but although the ball fell invitingly for Lance Williams inside the area the centre forward was off balance and unable to get his shot away while Greg Hackett hit a fine effort which cleared the bar by inches.
Early in the second half Didcot substitute Pablo Haysham hit a shot high over the bar before Corby regained the lead. Jordan Francis broke into the penalty area from a pass by Fortnam-Tomlinson and his initial shot was saved, and then fumbled, by Bedwell. Sam Barder's attempted clearance then hit on Francis on the chest and the Steelmen winger got to the loose ball just ahead of the full back to stroke it in.
Corby then appeared to have made the game safe with a third goal in the 54th minute when Connor Kennedy cut in from the right wing bewteen two defenders before firing in a shot which beat Bedwell at his near post.
Didcot were not to be denied that easily, however, and after Carnell had thumped another header just wide they had loud penalty appeals turned down when Cameron McNeil went to ground under the challenge of Jamie Anton.
And it was 'game on' in the 67th minute when Felipe Barcelos took a long forward pass in his stride and rounded George to make it 3-2 before Bedwell made an excellent save to keep out a long range Greg Ling shot.
There was still plenty of action to come after five minutes of injury time had been signalled. Connor Kennedy was shown a straight red card after going in high on Haysham and the victim and Adam Learoyd both squared up to the grounded Steelman. It was unclear which of the two had been the main aggressor but it was Learoyd who was also dismissed for his actions.
With just seconds remaining Didcot were convinced they should have had a penalty for handball when a shot by Callum McNish was blocked by the prone Gordon but referee Mr Ruebyn Ricardo again waved away their frantic appeals.
With Peterborough Sports winning 7-0 away to Dunstable Town - who had triumphed 2-1 at Steel Park seven days earlier - and Bromsgrove Sporting beating Corby's next opponents Kempston Rovers 5-0 the top places remained unchanged.

CORBY TOWN:- Dan George; Jamie Anton, Sam Warburton; Joel Carta (substitute Greg Ling), Delroy Gordon, Gary Mulligan (captain); Jordan Francis, Connor Kennedy, Elliot Sandy (substitute Ashley Robinson), Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson, Jordon Crawford (substitute Dennis Nkrumah). Unused substitutes: Hilton Arthur, Sidik Atcha.

DIDCOT TOWN:- Leigh Bedwell; Sam Barder, Cameron McNeil; Lewis Hayden, Luke Carnell, Adam Learoyd (captain); John Dennis, Callum McNish, Lance Williams (substitute Pablo Haysham), Seth Humphries (substitute Felipe Barcelos), Greg Hackett (substitute Morgan Williams). Unused substitutes: Ollie Thomas, Brett Gardner.

REFEREE:- Mr Ruebyn Ricardo (Leicester).

ATTENDANCE:- 432.

THE RAJ MAN OF THE MATCH: Gary Mulligan.