Frustration for Mills as Corby Town miss a chance to extend their lead

Gary Mulligan has received some high praise from manager Gary Mills for his performances for Corby Town so far this season. Picture by Peter Short

Gary Mills admitted he was frustrated to see Corby Town’s final chance to secure some points before the lockdown taken away from them.

The table-topping Steelmen had been due to return to Southern League Division One Central action at Biggleswade FC on Tuesday night after having their Buildbase FA Trophy hopes ended in a 2-1 home defeat to Premier Central side Hednesford Town at Steel Park last weekend.

However, the midweek trip was called off after two positive tests for Covid-19 within the Biggleswade squad.

Corby remain on top of the table after back-to-back league wins against Barton Rovers and Daventry Town, an effort made all the more impressive given the injection of new signings into the squad in recent weeks.

The likes of Tommy Yorston, Ollie Robinson, James Tague and Lewis White have all arrived at Steel Park and have helped the Steelmen hit top spot.

And Mills was left disappointed that they didn’t get one final chance to strengthen their position before the enforced lay-off.

“To have the game called off on Tuesday was disappointing because we have got ourselves on top of that league and we wanted to continue our good form,” the Corby boss said.

“With us going four weeks, maybe more, without a game we wanted to finish off by getting some more points on the board.

“But we can’t do anything about it. It’s just so disappointing.

“I have worked hard with these lads. The players who have come in may have been a bit shocked with how hard we work in training and with how hard I want my teams to work in games.

“But you get results because of it and the proof has been in the pudding with where we are sitting in the league at the moment.”

Mills, meanwhile, has piled the praise on experienced defender Gary Mulligan who has remained a key figure in the Corby squad this season.

And the manager believes Mulligan is the perfect role model for the younger players in the squad.

“Gary Mulligan is certainly one we can point to and say he has been outstanding in every game,” the Steelmen boss added.

“I’ve told the rest of the boys to have a good look at him and the way he looks after himself.

“He has not missed one minute of this season so far and that doesn’t just happen. It happens because you are a good pro.

“I know the boys around him look up to him about how to be an exceptional player.”