Corby Town’s cup dream came to an end in the Memorial Stadium on Saturday as they lost 3-1 to nPower League 2 side Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup with Budwiser

Callum Reynold’s second-half equaliser gave the Steelmen a glimpse of the road to the second round, but it wasn’t to be as Bristol bounced back to score another two goals shortly afterwards.

Ultimately it was the difference in League statuses that separated the two sides, the full-time outfit were just stronger and quicker then their Steelmen counterparts.

The gulf in quality was most telling in the first half, where Corby failed to register any attempt at goal of note and found themselves penned in their own half for the majority of the first forty-five.

In fact Rovers dominated literally from kick-off and registered their first shot on target within the first thirty seconds. Midfielder Danny Woodards skipped into space on the right and cued up Chris Zebroski, but fortunately for the Steelmen he skewed his shot with disastrous effect.

Corby ‘keeper Mackenzie was soon called into action though, as a superb succession of three saves kept the score level. First he skipped across the line to punch away a close-range Scott McGleish header, pouncing then on the re-bounds from Mustapha Carayol and Andy Dorman.

The Rovers were proving to be relentless in attack and finally grabbed the opener in the 26^th minute, McGleish scoring from the penalty spot following Andy Hall’s foul on midfielder Carayol.

That lead should have been increased in first-half stoppage time, but neither Matt Harrold or Zebroski could capitalize on a close-range McGleish cut-back. 

The Steelmen returned to the field in the second half revitalised by the break and began to get a foot-hold in the game. Callum Reynold’s saw a close range header spin just wide of the left-hand post and Paul Mayo saw a deflected shot loop just over the Pirates crossbar. 

Then, in the 61^st minute, Corby seized their opportunity and snatched the equaliser they so desperately craved. Rovers ‘keeper Scott Bevan could only parry Matt Rhead’s angled attempt straight at Reynolds following a Mayo free-kick. 

Merely yards out all the defender had to do was tap the ball into the net for his third goal in a Corby shirt.

Dreaming of another cup upset, the travelling Steelmen poured forward in search of the winner.

But Carayol had different ideas and smashed the home-side back in front ten minutes later. Bursting from the centre of midfield, the winger drove a spectacular 20 yard shot into Mackenzie’s bottom left-hand corner.

Zebroski made sure of Rovers’ return to the FA Cup with Budwiser, heading home Craig Stanley’s 88^th minute free-kick.

Bristol Rovers: Bevan; Woodards, Bolger, Sawyer, Brown; Zebroski, Stanley (sub Goddard, 90 mins), Dorman, Carayol; Harrold, McGleish (sub Richards, 85 mins). Subs not used: Smith, Anthony, Hunter, Norburn, Cronin.

Corby: Mackenzie; Gordon, Gulliver, Reynolds, Mayo; Hall (sub Ives, 75 mins), Hibbert (sub Malone, 79 mins), Ozmen (sub Spruce, 75 mins), Smith; Rhead, Rogan. Subs not used: Land, Dossou, Burgess, Drury.

Referee: Andy Davies.

Goals: McGleish pen (1-0, 23 mins), Reynolds (61 mins, 1-1), Carayol (71 mins, 2-1), Zebroski (88 mins, 3-1).

Attendance: 3,787 (541 Corby.)

By Kelly Cornwell