An unexpectedly below par Corby Town saw their chances of gaining automatic promotion decrease significantly as second placed Peterborough Sports widened the gap between the Steelmen and the top two with this victory at Steel Park. Despite the backing of a massive 933 crowd Corby's performance fell well short of what was required and they were well beaten by a side who can rightly be described as the Steelmen's 'bogey' team.
Corby's best spell of the game came at the very beginning. During this period a free kick by Sam Warburton on the right was headed behind for a left wing corner and Jordon Crawford's inswinging delivery was scrambled off the line at the far post by Dan Bucciero. It was to be some time before the Steelmen were to come as close again.
Peterborough then began to gain the upper hand and created several presentable chances. Warburton lost possession on half way to Dion Sembie-Ferris and after a run which took the winger deep into Corby territory he fed Josh Moreman, whose shot was well saved by Dan George. Sembie-Ferris was becoming a particular thorn in the Steelmen's side and he then sent in a centre which was just too high for Mark Jones.
The man running the show, however, was Sports midfield maestro Lewis Hilliard and from his free kick George had to be alert to keep out an effort by Stuart Wall. Another foul challenge gave Hilliard a second opportunity to display his set piece expertise in the 33rd minute and as Gary Mulligan challenged Mark Jones for the ball referee Mr Oliver Mackey pointed to the penalty spot, explaining afterwards that the Corby skipper had prevented the forward from having a clear header at goal.
Steve Kinniburgh was particularly aggrieved at this decision as he felt that an almost identical incident at the other end had gone unpunished just moments earlier. Not that this bothered Dan Lawlor as he stepped up to comfortably beat George from the spot. There was then a spot of unnecessary childishness when, in attempting to punt the ball upfield for the restart, George accidentally hit one of the celebrating Sports players on the back and within seconds the majority of the Peterborough team were surrounding the Corby 'keeper.
Fortunately the incident was quickly dealt with but, unfortunately, the visitors settled back into their rhythm and just three minutes later doubled their lead through a low shot by Sembie-Ferris.
Early in the second half Moreman had another shot pushed away by George before Corby found a way back into the game in the 69th minute. Crawford crossed from the left and Steve Diggin pulled away from his marker to head past Lewis Moat into the net.
With twenty minutes remaining there seemed plenty of time for the Steelmen to pile pressure on the visitors' goal, as they had done several times in recent home matches. On this occasion, however, the expected onslaught failed to materialise.
Moat was never called into action again and the nearest Corby came to an equaliser was a shot by Camron McWiiliams which went wide with Sandy and Diggin better placed in the middle.
With injury time approaching a tackle by McWilliams on Josh McCammon was deemed a foul worthy of a yellow card by Mr Mackey and with the Corby full back already on a yellow it was inevitably followed by red.
Just to pile more misery on Corby's miserable afternoon in the dying seconds a shot by Sembie-Ferris bounced up awkwardly in front of George and the Corby 'keeper badly fumbled the ball to present Avelino Vierra was a simple third goal for the visitors.

CORBY TOWN:- Dan George; Camron McWilliams, Sam Warburton; Joel Carta, Delroy Gordon, Gary Mulligan (captain), Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson (substitute Jordan Francis), Jack Newell, Elliot Sandy, Steve Diggin, Jordon Crawford. Unused substitutes: Ashley Robinson, Jamie Anton, Greg Ling.

PETERBOROUGH SPORTS:- Lew is Moat; Mitchell Griffiths, Daniel Bucciero; Stuart Wall, Richard Jones (captain), Dan Lawlor; Dion Sembie-Ferris, Josh McCammon, Mark Jones, Lewis Hilliard, Josh Moreman. Substitutes:- Avelino Vierra, Jordan McLeod, Maniche Sari, Henry Knobi. Johnny Herd.

REFEREE:- Mr Oliver Mackey (Leicester).

ATTENDANCE:- 933.