Grantham Town are beaten by Corby Town in the Northern Premier League

Four second half goals sent Grantham Town to defeat in their Northern Premier League clash at Corby Town on Saturday.

The Gingerbreads had frustrated their high-flying hosts for the opening period of the Midlands Division match at Steel Park.

But, once Fletcher Toll gave the Steelmen a 54th minute lead, there was only one outcome as goals followed from Reuben Marshall, Joe Butterworth and Danny Gordon.

In his final game as Grantham boss before resigning, Nathan Arnold - who had started his second successive match before being replaced due to injury in the 26th minute - was pleased with the first half showing from his already-relegated side.

He said: "The game-plan was to frustrate Corby in the first half.

"If we were to go there naively and just experiment, although we have to turn our focus to the future of Grantham, I think we would have come unstuck.

"We wanted to be solid and we spoke about having a lot of time out of possession but we stood up to it.

"You could see the players growing in confidence and it was a massive win for me to go at half-time at 0-0 with a fractured team.

"We then needed more of the same and to stay concentrated but we switched off for the first goal and, once that went in, it was always my fear in them growing in confidence.

"That was what we saw and credit to Corby because they are a good side."

Corby went into the game needing a victory to stay on course to clinch second spot and home advantage in the play-offs.

Spencer Edwards flashed over a dangerous cross before Grantham goalkeeper James Leverton was down smartly to save from Neo Dobson.

Leverton was well placed to cling onto a header from Rory McAuley before Toll saw a strike blocked by Ben Richards.

The Corby striker struck another effort narrowly wide before McAuley was off target with a back post header from a set piece.

The chances continued to fall to the home side and Leverton had to be off his line quickly to deny Toll at close range while Dobson turned a shot over at full stretch with just the Grantham goalkeeper to beat as the opening half finished goalless.

However, the second period was only nine minutes old when Corby claimed the lead as Toll turned home Gary Stohrer's cross at the back post.

Dobson curled another effort wide of the Grantham goal before the Steelmen doubled their lead in the 70th minute.

A long throw from Gordon went straight to the back post where the unmarked Marshall headed home the second goal of the afternoon.

Jevin Seaton went close to pulling a goal back for the Gingerbreads before two goals in the final 11 minutes sealed their fate.

Butterworth blasted home the third goal with a fine first-time finish into the far corner of the Grantham net.

Gordon then wrapped up the win as he exchanged passes with Stohrer before whipping home a trademark finish from the edge of the area.

Grantham host Darlaston Town on Saturday before making the trip to Long Eaton on Easter Monday.

Grantham Town Supporters Club Lottery winners: £200 Mrs Southgate, £10 W Jones, £10 V De'Ath, £40 T De'Ath, £10 N Holding.