|
Dr
Martens Western Division
Saturday,
10th January
2004
Attendance 178
Clevedon
Town |
0 |
2 |
Rugby
United |
|
|
|
Marsden
35
Beard
90 |
| Match
Entertainment |
 |
| Match
Summary |
Slightly
fortuitous win |
Star
Man | Jason Pearcey |
The
Rugby goal was peppered in the second half, with
Clevedon having 19 shots, but Pearcey dealt with
each one superbly and clung onto the ball in difficult
conditions as well as making several important
saves. |
New
striker Emeka Ejiorfor, who only signed on Friday from
Sutton Coldfield made his debut for Rugby alongside
skipper Robbie Beard and Justin Marsden up front in
an otherwise unchanged United side, as Nathan Thompson
dropped to the bench and Jamie Williams reverted to
left-wing back.
Valley
started well, and looked to be up for a battle, as Robbie
Beard used his pace down the right before sending a
cross for Jamie Williams, whose powerful header tested
home goalkeeper Weaver.
Clevedon
failed to genuinely threaten the Rugby goal in the first
half, apart from the odd long range effort, most notably
from former Merthyr midfielder Chris Bale whose right
foot shot flew only just past Pearcey's right up-right.
Robbie
Beard's pace was a typical thorn in the opposition's
defence and his run and cross was inadvertently headed
against the post by a covering Clevedon defender.
Emeka
Ejiorfor was proving a tough player for the Clevedon
defence to handle with his pure physical presence, and
it was he who played a major part in the opening goal.
Gary Moran, who had a very good game, provided a delicate
ball into the area for Ejiorfor, who controlled the
ball on his chest before getting the ball to the byline
and cutting the ball back to Justin Marsden,
who finished with ease at the second attempt for his
third goal in four.
Rugby
had a scare near the end of the first half when Williams
was adjudged to have deliberately handballed, but as
the home side were expecting a penalty, the assistant
pointed out that the offence occurred outside the area.
Craig Dutton was wrongly cautioned for the offence instead
of Williams, but the free-kick amounted to nothing.
In
the second half, United really should have kicked on
and killed off their hosts, but all too many balls were
being pumped up to Ejiorfor, or passes were carelessly
misplaced in midfield.
Clevedon
built up the pressure during the second half, and threatened
more constantly through corners and crosses as the game
went on. Pearcey was equal to most efforts, including
a powerful effort from Arthur Appleton and the ones
which he could not get to fortunately whistled past
the post - most notably Shane Hobbs' thunderous effort.
Andy
Rutherford had a very good game in defence, along with
the evergreen Adam Hart and Andy Commander, while Rugby
threatened on some occasions on the break. Jamie
Williams had the best effort of the half for Rugby,
barring the goal, driving a low effort at the Clevedon
goal from 30 yards, after being setup by Craig Dutton,
which was well saved by Weaver.
In
the last ten minutes, the home side piled on the pressure
and committed lots of men forwards, but they could not
break through a resilient Rugby defence and as they
missed more chances, it was inevitable that Rugby would
score on the break.
Ejiorfor
rounded off an impressive debut passing past the one
defender through for Robbie Beard, who rounded
the goalkeeper from ease before rolling the ball in
from outside the area.
The
home side would have been aggrieved not to claim at
least a point, but Rugby battled through and got the
result.
Rugby
United | Pearcey, Moran, Williams, Hart, Rutherford,
Commander, Squire, Dutton, Beard, Ejiorfor, Marsden
(Kattos) Subs | Thomas (gk), Pearson, Thompson,
Charley
Bookings
| Dutton |
