WORCESTER City saw their unbeaten run come to an end as they struggled to deal with bogey side Corby Town.

Saturday’s defeat, secured by two goals in nine second-half minutes, was the fourth successive meeting when City have failed to beat the Steelmen.

In previous encounters, Carl Heeley’s team had been robbed by last-gasp strikes, but this time Corby overpowered them.

After an even first-half, the visitors broke the deadlock through Phil Gulliver on 63 minutes before Nick Rogan’s free-kick finished City off.

Unlike against Halifax and Nuneaton, there was no barn-storming finish from the hosts and sub Danny Carey-Bertram’s stoppage-time penalty was saved by Chris Mackenzie.

It was the first time City had failed to score in a fixture this term and brought their five-match unbeaten sequence to an abrupt halt.

And, but for James Dormand, the score could have been a lot worse as the keeper pulled off a string of superb saves to thwart Corby.

Surprisingly, Heeley opted for a 4-5-1 system with Mike Symons the lone striker supported from midfield by Matt Birley, Kevin O’Connor and Tom Thorley, while Rob Elvins and Emeka Nwadike sat in front of the back four.

That put a heavy workload on Symons but Birley, in particular, was a like a jack-in-the-box, popping up all over the pitch to bolster the attack and track back defensively.

Although few would argue the visitors deserved their victory, in the first-half, at least, Heeley’s team gave as good as they got for large periods.

There were some tidy passages of play but Mackenzie was never seriously stretched.

Dormand, on the other hand, was called into action twice in quick succession, to deny Andy Hall and Matt Rhead.

Worcester did have their chances with centre-half Jacob Rowe heading over and O’Connor hooking the ball past the post. By the end of the half, City were on top and Mackenzie blocked from Birley and punched Asa Charlton’s free-kick over the bar.

The end-to-end pattern continued into the second period with Paul Malone heading against the bar for Corby and Ryan Clarke and Elvins going close for the hosts.

But the pressure began to build on the Worcester goal and it needed Dormand to tip Jordan Smith’s header over just past the hour.

City failed to heed the warning and fell behind to a replica move a little over 60 seconds later.

Malone headed Sam Ives’ flag-kick across the box and captain Gulliver pounced to nod past Dormand.

In such a tight contest, the first goal was going to be crucial and so it proved. Graham Drury’s side grew in stature and Hall’s 25-yarder was saved at full stretch by Dormand.

But he was beaten all ends up for Corby’s second as Rogan’s free-kick, having gone under the defensive wall, flashed into the bottom corner.

Following a push in the area, sub Carey-Bertram squandered the chance to halve the deficit as Mackenzie guessed right.