With second-placed Southport`s game at Haig Avenue being postponed, attention on Tuesday night fell on those chasing a play-off place and fighting relegation.
Strugglers Redditch United and relegation-threatened Vauxhall Motors both boosted their survival prospects with vital victories
Redditch moved up to seventeenth place in the table with a 1-0 win against Stafford Rangers at Marston Road.
The match looked to be heading for a goalless draw but the Reds were awarded a penalty just 2 minutes from time which was calmly coverted by forward Joe Clarke.
Vauxhall Motors also claimed a vital three points against play-off hopefuls Northwich Victoria at Motoassist Arena – and this game too was settled from the spot, Brian Moogan's 35th minute conversion being the only goal of the game.
Hyde United find themselves hovering just above the drop zone after slumping to a heavy defeat at the hands of in-form Solihull Moors at Damson Park.
The Moors, who were in trouble themselves until a recent run of excellent form has moved them clear, opened their account through midfielder Tim Gould in the 15th minute and ex-Leeds man Simon Johnson doubled their tally in the 25th minute before bagging his second of the game in the 73rd minute.
Blyth Spartans are still looking a little nervously over their shoulders at the bottom three after a 3-1 `derby` defeat at Borough Park by Workington.
Spartans still have a decent-looking cushion over the drop zone, but will have to pick up from Tuesday where Jonny Wright bagged a brace for the Reds on 15 and 57 minutes before Paul Brayson pulled Blyth back into the game on 66 minutes.
But Gareth Arnison made sure for the home side with number three with 12 minutes remaining.
Corby Town left the New Manor Ground feeling somewhat robbed by Ilkeston Town.
The masters of the away win looked on course to add another to their tally as they led 2-1 with 10 minutes left. But in the 80th minute, a cross from Gary Ricketts hit Steelmen skipper Phil Gulliver, who was all of five yards away.
There was little the Corby man could have done to get out of the way and the assistant referee agreed as he flagged for a corner. But the referee paused then ignored his assistant and awarded Ilkeston a penalty.
Amari Morgan-Smith, who had also converted a penalty in the first half to make it 1-1, slammed home the second spot-kick, too.
And 5 minutes after that, home substitute Josh Burge rifled in a superb low shot to give former Steelmen boss Kevin Wilson a win over his old side.
Both sides knew they needed to win to keep their play-off ambitions on track having identified each other as a major rival in the race for the top five.
However, given their close proximity in the league and recalling how evenly-matched they had looked in the first meeting at Rockingham Triangle, most were anticipating a tight game.
The Steelmen took the lead after 17 minutes when Paul Mayo smashed home a free kick via the underside of the bar.
If anything, however, the goal galvanised the home side more and Corby spent the rest of the first half having to defend.
And it looked like they would hold out but then in first half injury-time, Mayo went from hero to villan as he bundled over Morgan-Smith in the box and the striker made no mistake from the spot.
Nine minutes into the second half, however, the Steelmen were back in front as new signing Ricky Miller claimed his first goal in Corby colours from Brett Solkhon's corner.
Needing to get his side going, Wilson gambled with a triple substitution with 15 minutes left, with player-coach Darren Caskey among those to enter the fray.
And within 5 minutes it had paid dividends as Morgan-Smith lashed home his controversial equaliser, setting the stage for Burge's winner and leave Corby seething at the injustice of it all.
