Mills impressed as Steelmen complete a perfect pre-season

Gary Mills says he has seen a “bit of everything I want” from his Corby Town players after they completed a perfect pre-season with a thrilling 4-3 victory at higher-ranked Coalville Town.

Mills’ late arrival as the new Steelmen manager only seems to have galvanised the players as they rounded off their preparations with a fourth win from as many friendly outings.

They will now begin preparing for the start of the new season, which begins with an Emirates FA Cup preliminary round clash at Mildenhall Town next weekend.

A dramatic final friendly saw Jordon Crawford continue his fine pre-season form by giving the Steelmen an early lead, which they held until half-time.

Coalville hit back in the second half to take a 2-1 advantage before Joel Carta levelled things up.

The hosts went back in front but Steve Diggin made it 3-3, scoring from the rebound after his penalty had been saved.

And there was more drama to come as Steelmen goalkeeper Craig Hill saved a penalty at the other end before Corby won it late on through substitute Jordan O’Brien.

Mills said: “I said to the players at the end that in the four games in the time I’ve been with them I have seen a bit of everything that I want from them.

“Since I have been at the club, the players have worked tirelessly whether that’s in training or on the pitch. The work rate has been tremendous.

“We have won all four games and that does mean something because we have shown a lot of character today to go behind twice and come back like we did.

“I have seen stuff that I have been really, really pleased with and I thought we deserved that today.

“We started the game well like we did against Stamford and scored in that first 20 minutes.

“I am really pleased. That’s our last game and we now have a couple of training sessions to get ready for what we hope will be a good season for everybody.”

Elsewhere in the local pre-season action, Kettering Town drew 0-0 with National League side Solihull Moors at Latimer Park.

And AFC Rushden & Diamonds were held to a 1-1 draw at Daventry Town with the hosts levelling things up in the second half after Tom Lorraine had put Andy Peaks’ team in front.