Although Corby Town went into this game without the ill Jake Bettles and injured Joel Carta and with several other players carrying a variety of knocks they proved too strong for a Kempston Rovers side managed by ex-Steelman Tony Joyce.

The Steelmen began the game with a positive attitude and could have been out of sight by half time. Kempston goalkeeper Tom Wyant did well to hold onto a Sam Warburton centre as Ben Bradshaw and Elliot Sandy closed in early on.

It was a mixed forty five minutes for Jordon Crawford. Some right wing trickery from Crawford set up Bradshaw for a shot which was turned round the post by Wyant. But when he got a sight of goal himself he hesitated and the chance was gone.

Corby eventually did go ahead in the 37th minute when a Warburton free kick from the left was headed in at the far post by Gary Mulligan, the skipper just getting to the ball before Greg Ling.

The visitors almost drew level before the interval when a shot was pushed onto the post by the previously untested Dan George. The Steelmen failed to heed this warning, however, and in the 64th minute slack defending gave Nathan Tshikuna a shooting opportunity which he took with aplomb.

Fortunately before nerves could set in Corby were back in front within three minutes. Crawford played a left wing corner into the six yard box and Connor Kennedy nodded the ball into the net.

The ever involved Crawford was lucky to escape a serious injury when he was clattered into the advertising hoardings by Ben Acquaye who picked up a yellow card.

In the 83rd minute Steve Kinniburgh made what he could claim to be an inspired substitution. Sam Grouse was introduced as replacement for Jordan Francis and within seconds of joining the action he was on hand to fire the ball high into the net from another Crawford assist.

The game was now won but there was still time for Corby to improve their goal difference, which could be vital at the end of the season, with two more goals.

In the 90th minute an inswinging Crawford corner from the left ended up in the net. Did it go straight in, did Wyant push it into his own net or did Sandy get the final touch? No-one seemed sure but in the end it was given to Sandy.

Then, deep into injury time, Ben Bradshaw blocked an attempted clearance by Wyant and the loose ball fell into the path of Sandy who rolled in the easiest of his sixteen goals this season.

Bromsgrove Sporting's 4-3 win over Peterborough Sports prevented the leaders from extending their advantage at the top of the table while Corby's four-goal winning margin took them into second place on goal difference above Bromsgrove.

CORBY TOWN:- Dan George, Miles Smith, Sam Warburton, Delroy Gordon, Greg Ling (substitute Jamie Anton), Gary Mulligan (captain), Jordan Francis (substitute Sam Grouse), Connor Kennedy, Elliot Sandy, Ben Bradshaw, Jordon Crawford. Unused substitutes: Ashley Robinson, Dan Smith (GK).

KEMPSTON ROVERS:- Tom Wyant, Harlem Sambu, Hateley Mercer, Daniel Akubuine, Alfie Powell, Kye Andrews, Ben Acquaye, Ben Sheperd (captain), Scott Joseph, Nathan Tshikuna, George Boland. Substitutes: Josh Crawley, Evan Beldon, Dominic Morgille, Carl Knox (GK).

REFEREE:- Mr Alan Cox (Coventry).

ATTENDANCE: 329.