After a momentous week which had seen the club's plans approved for a £4m east stand, Town followed their six straight home league wins by completing the double over ninth-placed Corby at fog-bound Rockingham Triangle.

Indeed, visibility was so poor that an abandonment was threatened shortly after half-time, but Town remained fully focused to take their points tally to 60 with a 19th goal from top scorer Adam Warlow and Anthony Barry's first for the club.

The downside to the day came in the form of knee injuries to Nathan Pond and Shaun Beeley, who was carried off.

Manger Micky Mellon adopted a new formation with three central defenders, handing Gavin Cowan a debut alongside regular pairing Steve McNulty and skipper Michael Taylor to combat Corby's physical presence.

With Alan Wright still struggling with a hamstring injury, Beeley and Sean Clancy operated as wing-backs.

Jamie McGuire, Anthony Barry and Pond formed a midfield trio behind Warlow and Blue Square North player of the month Nick Rogan.

Both sides struggled to create early chances until Town broke the deadlock on 23 minutes. Following some sustained Corby pressure, Town went on the offensive and Beeley sent over an inch-perfect cross for Warlow to rise at the near post and head home.

It meant Warlow has scored in each of Town's last four matches, having also hit the net in September's 4-2 win over Corby at Highbury.

Corby's former Blackpool player Tommy Jaszczun was booked on the half-hour for felling the industrious Beeley, but Corby retained enough of a threat to keep Town on their mettle.

A high cross from Paul Mayo found former Nottingham Forest player Jason Lee's head ten minutes before the break but his effort flew wide.

With Craig Dootson solid in goal for Town, the new system worked well, and Clancy and Beeley regularly caused problems down the flanks.

As the game survived the fog threat, Warlow was replaced on the hour by Gareth Seddon, a hat-trick hero when the sides last met, and his first touch was to put the ball in the net only to be deemed offside.

Corby had chances which they were unable to convert and Town suffered a setback on 75 minutes, when Beeley damaged a knee in an awkward landing and had to be stretchered off.

This gave an opportunity to the day's second debutant, Leigh Franks, who is on loan from Huddersfield Town. However, any Fleetwood nerves were eased by Barry's goal with seven minutes remaining.

Fed by Rogan, he showed composure to put the match beyond Corby.
Pond then became Town's second casualty, limping off with a cut to on his right knee. His replacement John Hills had a let-off when his attempted clearance struck a post but Town's defence otherwise remained firm to secure a tenth clean sheet of the league campaign.

Southport continue to breathe down Town's necks but needed another late winner, this time at home to Blyth Spartans, to keep Fleetwood within reach.

They visit promotion rivals Hinckley for the first of their two games in hand tonight and require victory by three goals to knock Town off the top.

All Town can do is concentrate on their own fixtures, and the 50 or so travelling fans in the crowd of 455 at Corby headed back north delighted and looking forward to Saturday's return to Highbury for the visit of Gloucester City.

Fleetwood team: Dootson, Beeley (Franks), Cowan, Taylor (capt), McNulty, Pond (Hills), Clancy, McGuire, Rogan, Warlow (Seddon), Barry; subs not used: Mullan, Wilde.
David Mitchell