Nine-man Rugby Town put in a good fight but ultimately fell short against early pacesetters Corby Town at Butlin Road.

Red cards for Josh Thomas and Olly West in a five-minute spell just after half time meant Valley had to play with two men light for over half an hour but to their credit the nine men managed to force Corby back as they searched for an equaliser late on.

Corby had led at half time through an early penalty but the disastrous spell just after the break not only saw the two sendings off but also saw the Steelmen double their lead before Rugby tried to mount an unlikely comeback.

Grant Joshua named an unchanged line-up for a third successive game but it was the visitors who made the much brighter start with Marcus Bald making an excellent save to deny Tyrone Lewthwaite.

Connor Tomlinson dragged a shot wide from a good position before Ethan Hanson was rather harshly penalised for what looked a good tackle on Lewthwaite in the area with Lewthwaite picking himself out before beating Bald with his low penalty kick.

Nathan Kabeya made a fine block to deny Tomlinson while Lewthwaite came very close to his second but saw his effort bounce off the upright following a corner while at the other end Rugby's only real chance of the opening period saw Hanson flick an effort wide.

Valley started the second half well with Ryan Sahota lifting a good chance over after good work by Harrison Nee but events soon turned sour for the hosts.

The award of a red card for Thomas for tackle on Aaron Nuttall on the halfway line again seemed an excessive punishment and it continued moments later when Rory McAuley looped a header into the net from Hugh Jones' free-kick.

West was then given his marching orders for a second yellow card for a foul again on Nuttall having been booked minutes before for remonstrating with the referee regarding the Thomas red card.

Playing for the final 40 minutes with nine men, Rugby did remarkably well to restrict Corby to very little with Rivel Mardenborough curling an effort over for Valley.

It was Mardenborough who reduced the arrears when he took a touch before finishing from close range after Caine Elliott's cleverly-taken free-kick.

For the remainder of the game there was only one shot on target from either side with Bald making a decent save to deny substitute Tendai Daire while Rugby tried to crank up the pressure late on to get a second goal which ultimately never came.

Full report to follow.

Valley Line-up: Bald; Tye, Kabeya, Thomas, Hanson; Sahota (Reid 86'), Elliott, Griffin (West 27'); Taylor (McNeil 57'), Nee (Palmer 73'), Mardenborough (Sanderson-Ellis 87'). Subs not used: None. Booked: West. Sent Off: Thomas, West.