AFC Totton fell victim to a Corby Town revenge mission at Steel Park last night.

Having sent the Steelmen packing 2-1 at the Testwood Stadium on Saturday, the Stags had the tables turned on them 3-1 in Northamptonshire.

They slipped behind to a third-minute Claudio Hoban strike following a comedy of errors from a throw-in and then had several chances to equalise with Harrison Gilkes, Zac Mouland and Nathaniel Sherborne all going close.

But two goals in as many minutes proved their undoing midway through the second half.

Drew Bridge’s push on Hoban invited Greg Mills to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot and, within a flash, Sam Ives thundered in a third form Chris Curruthers’ headed assist.

Totton refused to throw in the towel, however, and 17-year-old Mouland chased a ball over the top before netting an 87th-minute consolation.

The return of experienced defender Curruthers and skipper Gareth Jelleyman following a pay dispute boosted Corby, but Stags boss Steve Riley reflected: “At one point we were 3-0 down and we didn’t deserve to be on the balance of play. We had some promising chances but their keeper made some good saves. Over the 90 minutes we deserved to get something out of the game.”

Totton remain ten points adrift of fourth-to-bottom safety in the Calor Southern Premier with just seven games to play – starting at Arlesey on Saturday.

They have done wonders to take 16 points from the last 27, but Riley admitted: “With every game that goes by there are less points up for grabs and it gets harder and harder.”