Boss Drury ready to secure a second 'great escape' with the Steelmen

The Steelmen have endured a tough start to their campaign, resulting in manager Leon Mettam losing his job last month.

That saw Drury come in for a second stint at Steel Park, but after just three points from his opening five games in charge, Corby found themselves second bottom and eight points from safety.

But Tuesday night saw a first win of the manager's second Steel Park stint, with Corby beating Mickleover 2-0, and that lifted them up to third bottom and to within five points of fifth-from-bottom Barwell – with a game in hand.

It is still a far from ideal position, but Drury oversaw a dramatic recovery from Stamford in the Southern League Premier Central last season.

The Daniels looked dead and buried at the turn of the year, as they sat rock bottom of the table, and a whopping 11 points from safety.

But they turned things round in dramatic style, putting together a tremendous run of form to eventually finish 17th and eight points clear of the drop zone.

And he is now looking to do the same, and perhaps more, at Steel Park this season.

"I said to the players, when I was at Stamford, I think we had eight points in the middle of December, so don't think the gaffer is frightened of the challenge," Drury told @chuckmiddleton.

"What we did at Stamford, we were second in the league in the form guide after Christmas, and we now have to do that here.

"I need men, I need men to dig in, and they have to stand up, get stuck in and work hard."

Drury was delighted to see his players do exactly that against Mickleover in midweek, and he now wants to see more of the same when they entertain third-placed Shepshed Dynamo on Saturday (ko 3pm).

"The whole group deserved such credit on Tuesday," said the Steelmen boss.

"They dug in, they battled, they fought and they showed a side to them that I am really pleased to see.

"They showed that they want to play for the shirt, they want to play for the badge, they want to play for the town and they want to play for me.

"They ran through a brick wall and I am so proud of the group.

"We got three points and it was fantastic, so is that the wheels starting to move? Hopefully.

"Confidence should be a little bit higher and we are ready to go.

"It was also nice to have a clean sheet after conceding eight goals in two games."

Shepshed arrive at Steel Park on Saturday off the back of a 4-0 home beating at the hands of Sutton Coldfield Town on Tuesday night.

That was a shock result, as prior to that they had thrashed St Ives Town 6-0 and Coleshill Town 5-1.

The loss to Sutton was their first in seven games.