Mills pleased as Steelmen hit their stride

Corby Town are heading into a short break from match action with a bit of a spring in their step.

Having suffered an early exit from the Emirates FA Cup and then a home defeat to Aylesbury United in their opening game of the Pitching In Southern League Division One Central campaign, Gary Mills’ side hit their stride in two games in the space of 48 hours.

The Steelmen’s first win of the season came thanks to goals from Curtis Hartley, an own-goal and Steve Diggin’s 100th in Corby colours as they ran out 3-0 victors at Soham Town Rangers in the first qualifying round of the Buildbase FA Trophy.

And then, just two days on, Diggin struck again to secure a 1-0 success at Coleshill Town as Mills’ team put their first points on the board in the league.

Due to AFC Dunstable still being involved in the FA Cup, Corby now have the weekend off before they resume with a home clash against Bedworth United next Wednesday night.

And Mills is set to use that bit of breathing space to see if he can strengthen his squad up.

“It’s always nice to get wins whenever they come,” the Steelmen boss said.

“After a couple of defeats, I made some tactical changes in terms of personnel and other things and, like I have said to a few people, I have only been here a few weeks and I am still learning about the players and they are still learning about me.

“The last two performances have been very good. To get two clean sheets away from home and score four goals is really pleasing.

“It was massive for us to get the points on the board in the league, especially with us not having a game on Saturday and the next one not being until next Wednesday.

“The result at the weekend helped going into Monday night. Two games in three days away from home is never an easy situation to deal with but the players have been excellent over the last couple of matches.

“It is early days but we want to hit the ground running as quickly as we can and, as manager, I am still looking at things and the first couple of games still felt like pre-season. I had to find out things that made me change it up to help us.

“We will have a couple of sessions before next Wednesday, of course.

“But it also gives me an opportunity. There’s no doubt, like most managers, I am looking to try to bring a couple of players in to strengthen us.

“I have tried it and been a bit unfortunate with some that haven’t happened but I certainly want to bring a couple in if I can just to make the squad stronger than what it is already.”

Mills, meanwhile, paid tribute to Diggin who brought up his century of goals from his two spells with the club at the weekend before strike 101 followed on Monday.

And the Steelmen boss admitted he was impressed with the work-rate of both Diggin and striker partner Elliot Sandy who was back in the team for the wins at Soham and Coleshill.

Mills added: “I have never worked with Diggs before, although I actually enquired about him when I was manager at York a few years ago when we were both a bit younger!

“He does things naturally and you saw that with his goal on Monday night, that’s what he is about.

“What I am trying to bring into his game is the other side of it, the defensive duties which are massive in a team.

“I put Elliot up front with him in the last couple of games and that’s worked well.

“They have both got to learn that side of it, which I demand, and the two of them have been excellent when it comes to defending from the front.

“Diggs scored a great goal on Monday night but, for me, his work-rate was better than his goal and I mentioned as much to him. That’s what I want us to be about this season."