Corby Town dug deep to pick up three vital points away to fellow promotion hopefuls Berkhamsted. The game was only just given the go ahead following an 11.30 am inspection of the Broadwater Stadium pitch on the banks of the Grand Union Cannel. But although the surface was heavy it was certainly playable.
Corby created the first opportunity when home centre half Ryan Kinnane headed a Sam Warburton corner out to the edge of the penalty area, from where Greg Ling hit a shot over the crossbar.
It was Berkhamsted who struck the first blow in the ninth minute, however, as Matt Bateman set up Elliott Godfrey who supplied the excellent finish.
The Steelmen were undeterred by this set-back and Jordan Francis took on - and beat James Towell for pace but ran out of pitch before he could get in a cross. Corby were soon level, however, as a Warburton free kick from just inside opposition territory fell to Joel Carta who fired his shot into the net.
Corby then had a big penalty shout when Ben Bradshaw went to ground under the challenge of Godfrey but referee Mr Rea saw nothing untoward and waved play on.
The blue shirted Steelmen then enjoyed a spell of sustained pressure which led to their second goal. Xavi Comas Leon made a sharp save at his near post from Ling after Jordon Crawford had put the midfield man in on goal. Crawford's left wing corner was headed out for another flag kick on the opposite flank and Warburton's centre was turned in by Carta as he got in front of his marker.
Corby ended the first half well on top and only a perfectly timed tackle by Danny Murphy inside the area prevented Francis from adding a third.
There was one heart-in-mouth moment for Corby supporters shortly after the interval when Dan George completely missed a high centre but Connor Kennedy was on hand to clear the danger.
Almost immediately Crawford ended an incisive run at the defence with a pass which put Francis in on a one-on-one with Comas Leon but the Comrades' goalkeeper made a good save to once again frustrate the Corby winger.
Kennedy and Bradshaw both hit shots disappointingly wide and the home side's best chance of the half fell to Kinnane when he headed over following a corner.
The ball then passed narrowly wide of the Berkhamsted goal when an attempted clearance hit the unsuspecting Elliott Sandy and Crawford went even closer with a shot which came out off the inside of the post with the goalkeeper beaten.
The home side had one final chance when Kinnane's header from a Louis Austin long throw was clawed away by George.
Berkhamsted finished the game with ten men following the late dismissal of Danny Murphy. The Comrades skipper was spoken to by Mr Rea after disputing a decision but failed to heed the warning and was shown a yellow card. This was compounded in the dying minutes when Murphy lunged in with a needlessly reckless challenge on Kennedy and his second yellow was followed by the inevitable red.
This was a hard earned, and deserved, victory over a well organised Berkhamsted side which moved Corby level on points with second placed Bromsgrove Sporting. The pursuit of current leaders Peterborough Sports continues with a home game against Kempston Rovers next weekend.

BERKHAMSTED FC:- Xavi Comas Leon, James Towell, Danny Murphy (captain), Max Farrelly, Ryan Kinnane, Liam McCrohan, Oran Swales, Elliott Godfrey, Matt Bateman, Dan Jones, Jonathan Lacey. Substitutes: Will Summerfield, Adiel Mannion, Karl Stevenson, Louis Austin, Connor Toomey.

CORBY TOWN:- Dan George, Connor Kennedy, Sam Warburton, Ben Bradshaw, Ashley Robinson, Gary Mulligan (captain), Jordan Francis (substitute Zac Allen), Greg Ling, Elliott Sandy, Joel Carta (substitute Jake Bettles), Jordon Crawford (substitute sam Grouse). Unused substitutes; Dean McBride, Luke Aridegbe.

REFEREE:- Mr S. Rea.

ATTENDANCE:- 151.