Boston United 1-0 Corby Town

Boston extended their run of matches without conceding a goal to ten, as they beat The Steelmen at York Street. At times there can be very little difference between championship challengers and promotion hopefuls. A single strike proved enough last night when Corby Town created enough chances to have taken away at least a point..

Ultimately, they couldn't quite halt the Pilgrims' progress as they returned to the top of the Blue Square Bet North table on goal-difference.

There is no doubt that next Wednesday's FA Cup first-round replay at Luton Town is a bonus – particularly with the prospect of a trip to Charlton Athletic.

But the play-offs remain the priority for the Steelmen. Without an away league win since August, Graham Drury's side must improve that record. However that was never going to be easy against a former Football League club who are heading in the right direction following off-the-field issues.

Boston extended their club record into double figures for successive clean sheets in the league since their 6-3 win at Harrogate in August and it was no surprise that the Steelmen were put under pressure right from the start.

Inside the opening minute Chris Mackenzie made a stunning point-blank save from Spencer Weir-Daley and his strike partner Danny Davidson's shot was blocked for a corner.

Mackenzie was called into action to deal with the danger on the edge of the penalty box as Weir-Daley and Marc Newsham looked to get on the end of Ryan Semple's crossfield pass.

The Corby keeper was beaten on 13 minutes but he got lucky when Andy Hall cleared off the line from Weir-Daley's far-post header following Semple's corner.

Boston's crisp passing and policy of getting the ball wide posed plenty of problems.

That was perfectly illustrated as Davidson delivered a pass for Semple whose right-wing cross wasn't quite converted by Newsham and Weir-Daley both sliding in behind Mackenzie.

It certainly took a while for the Steelmen to get going. However, they dominated the rest of the first half as Ben Mackey twice nodded off target and saw another attempt hit a home defender amid appeals for handball.

Nathan Jarman fired wide from 25 yards but Pilgrims keeper James McKeown was finally tested by Chris Hope's low free-kick.

At the start of the second period Steve Towers blasted over the stand and Jarman again failed to get close to the home goal with a long-range drive.

Corby should have gone ahead on 54 minutes with a pacy attack which saw Mackey unable to find the net from Glenn Walker's pass into the six-yard box.

Hall led another counter-attack which Jarman wasted when he couldn't connect cleanly with the best chance of the opening hour.

Mackey's blockbuster was parried by McKeown as the Steelmen pushed forward on a much more regular basis than they might have imagined after the early exchanges.

There was still a real threat, though, particularly from ex-Rushden & Diamonds loanee Semple's set-pieces.

Boston were forced into a tactical switch and it paid off almost immediately as substitute Miles Hunter headed into the far corner.

Drury responded by changing the Steelmen's strikeforce and Walker should have levelled. Instead he took a little longer than necessary and the opportunity was gone.

Boston (4-4-2): James McKeown; Lee Canoville (James Cullingworth 76), Shaun Pearson, Kieran Murphy, Gareth Jelleyman; Marc Newsham (Miles Hunter 67), Anthony Church, Danny Sleath, Ryan Semple; Danny Davidson (Mikel Suarez 46), Spencer Weir-Daley. Subs (not used): Jamie Yates, Josh Burge.

Corby (4-4-2): Chris Mackenzie; Danny Pitham, Chris Hope, Phil Gulliver, Asa Charlton; Andy Hall (Michael Frew 80), Steve Towers, Richard Lavery, Glenn Walker; Nathan Jarman (Steve Diggin 75), Ben Mackey (Adam Webster 75). Subs (not used): Liam Green, Nathan Thackeray.

Attendance: 1279

Referee: I Dudley