A fortuitous early goal halted North Leigh’s hopes of reaching the Evo-Stik Southern League's Red Insure Cup final as they lost 1-0 at Corby Town on Wednesday.

The winner came after just four minutes, when midfielder Claudio Hoban's cross went straight in.

The semi-final at Steel Park turned out to be a game of few clear chances as the hosts, who are second in the Premier Division, struggled to get in to the game against Mark Gee's side.

The Division 1 South & West visitors, who were missing five key players through suspension, injury and unavailability, battled well.

Two minutes into the tie, Corby signalled their intentions when Greg Mills raced in on goal, but Matt Bulman saved his shot with his legs.

Two minutes later, Hoban scored what proved the winner when his intended cross drifted into the top corner past a startled Bulman.

After the break, the Millers came more into the game and on 49 minutes Stuart Hole hit a firm free kick into the box that Corby scrambled away with difficulty as they put together some decent moves.

However, they had a lucky escape on 62 minutes when Mills, Corby's best player, put in a teasing cross to the far post which Elliott Chamberlain headed wide when he should have scored.

Late on, home goalkeeper Paul Walker had to be alert to keep out efforts from striker Morgan Williams and midfielder Michael Hopkins, but Corby hung on to reach the final, against Poole Town.

North Leigh: Bulman, Eadle (Moore 85), Hopkins, Turk, Westlake, Hole, Else, Linford-Pill (Seacole 90), Caton, Woodley, Williams.

Ref: B Cooke (Atherstone, Warwickshire).

Attendance: 234.

l WOODSTOCK Town were cursing their luck as they missed the chance to go top of Uhlsport Hellenic League Division 1 East with a 4-3 defeat at Rayners Lane on Saturday.

Jack Dunmall, Duran Martin and Dan Bone netted for Woodstock.

But strikes by Rayners Lane’s Jamal Stewart and Dan McPherson were added to by Chris McConnell’s brace in the last five minutes.