Corby Town made hard work of picking up their first Evo-Stik Division One Central points since November 3rd but pick them up they did to keep themselves firmly involved in the promotion race.
With Miles Smith still missing through suspension Steve Kinniburgh made one change from the previous week, bringing Greg Ling in for a rare start to strengthen the midfield at the expense of the more attack minded Sam Grouse. The early exchanges were even with neither side testing the opposing goalkeeper.
Corby appeared to have taken control of the game when they scored twice in the space of ten first half minutes. With fifteen minutes gone Elliot Sandy played a neat through ball into the visiting penalty area and the fleet-footed Jordan Francis got to it fractionally ahead of goalkeeper Jack Hopwood to stroke an angled shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Ten minutes later the Steelmen repeated the move with Jordon Crawford this time claiming the assist and Sandy producing the clinical finish.
At this point Corby supporters were contemplating an emphatic return to winning ways but those thoughts lasted a mere four minutes. Steelmen skipper Gary Mulligan was taken out by Tre Mitford as they challenged for a Matt Peake-Pijnen free kick and Jack Wood attempted an audacious overhead kick which floated up and over Dan George to reduce the deficit.
That deficit was wiped out completely n the 35th minute when some slack Corby defending left Mitford in the clear to roll the equaliser past the exposed George.
Corby did create two further chances before half time but Joel Carta was just unable to get on the end of a Ben Bradshaw pass inside the area and Crawford pulled a shot wide after creating the opening himself.
The loss of a two-goal lead gave Steelmen supporters plenty to contemplate over their interval Bovrils with optimism and pessimism being expressed in equal measures.
Fortunately it was the optimists who won the day as Corby scored what proved to be the deciding goal in the 59th minute. Crawford once again did the leg work out on the right wing and his centre found Sandy who, despite being surrounded by four defenders, was able to direct his header past Hopwood.
Next on the agenda for third in the table Corby is a visit to fourth placed Berkhamsted next weekend.

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

AYLESBURY UNITED:- Jack Hopwood, Ollie Hogg, Matt Peake-Pijnen, Jack Wood (captain), Jeanmal Prosper, Ollie Jones (substitute Benjamin Aghaduno), Max Hercules (substitute Harry Jones), Greg Williams, Tre Mitford, Ben Seaton, Jake Bewley (substitute Aaron Berry). Unused substitutes: Callum Mapley, Archie Davis (GK).

REFEREE:- Mr Martyn Fryer (Nottingham)

ATTENDANCE:- 354.