Rugby Town suffered another blow in their fight against the drop with a single-goal defeat at Corby Town.

In a game of low quality on a difficult playing surface, there was a distinct lack of clear cut chances for both sides throughout the game, but home skipper Jordon Crawford's 35th-minute finish proved to be the decisive moment as Rugby rounded off the month with a fourth straight loss.

Town's initial starting line-up had shown six changes from the disappointing 3-0 Butlin Road reverse against Bourne seven days earlier, but the pre-match withdrawal through injury of Ryley Nicholson reduced that total to five with Charlie Woods, Rivel Mardenborough, Harrison Nee and Sam Tye all back in and academy midfielder Alex Dulgheru making a first start in Rugby's midfield.

The hosts almost made a breakthrough within the opening minute when Luke Young played in Fletcher Toll behind the Valley defence, but Woods was quickly off his line to deny the Steelmen striker.

Crawford then struck one off-target from a wide position, and Bo Morris blocked Frankie Webster's effort as Corby continued to edge the early exchanges.

However, Morris's block saw the centre-half injured in the process, and he was forced to leave the field after just eighteen minutes - forcing another unplanned defensive rejig for Town.

The visitors first real sighter on goal saw Corby keeper Theo Avery gather Rivel Mardenborough's strike at the second attempt, after Caine Elliott had played in his team-mate. The dangerous Harrison Jones had an effort blocked, before the Steelmen took the lead when Webster flicked on Eunis Lievens's long free-kick to see Crawford react the quickest and nip in ahead of Woods to help the ball home.

Jones volleyed one well wide of the frame shortly after the opening goal, but Rugby ended the half relatively brightly with a Tyler Bruck run ending with a tame shot from distance that was comfortably gathered by Avery, followed by another Bruck incursion ending with a cross that Mardenborough almost got a shot off from.

Mardenborough then struck the outside of the post in first-half added-time after Avery had spilled Elliott's dangerously swung-in free-kick.

The second period was generally a dour, uneventful affair, and the first opportunity of it came near the hour mark when Josh Thomas headed over another Elliott free-kick.

At the other end, Tye did well to block Young's effort and Webster headed one wide, before Thomas missed out on another header opportunity in the Corby box.

Town sub Kobi Bivens put a threatening ball across goal but there was no one there to take advantage, before Woods pulled off two excellent saves in the closing stages - first keeping out Webster's low volley and then denying Fran Obiagwu, after the Steelmen sub had pounced on Rugby's defensive uncertainty to a long punt forward to run through on goal.

Bruck's shot just inside the area which deflected off a defender's leg and looped over the bar was given as a goal kick instead of a corner, and summed up Valley's frustrating afternoon in the last meaningful action of the game.

Valley Line-up: Woods; Murray, Lundoloki, Morris (Concannon 16'), Thomas; Tye, Dulgheru, Elliott; Nee (Bivens 75'), Mardenborough, Bruck. Subs not used: Petkovic.

Corby Line-up: Avery, Lievins, Bahrey, Challinor, Matthews, Gothard, Crawford, Jones, Toll, Webster, Young. Subs: Brooks, Brazil, Obiagwu, Martindale, Ngwa.