Valley Do Just Enough In Local Battle
Saturday, 4th October 2003
A 3-0 FA Trophy Preliminary Round win over local rivals Bedworth United flattered Rugby, although the scoreline could have been more in a dire game at The Oval...
Saturday, 4th October 2003
Attendance
Bedworth United |
0 |
3 |
Rugby United |
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Hall 17 (p) Pearson Hateley og |
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| Match Entertainment |  |
Star Man | Rory Squire | Rugby's only consistent performer today. Tackled brilliantly, passed the ball well and srarted to show some neat touches as his confidence increased. |
For a third consecutive meeting, Rugby netted three goals against The Greenbacks, even without talisman Robbie Beard, but it looked as though there was never three goals in the game at all.
A woeful first half saw only one real piece of action when midfielder Craig Dutton was needlessly tripped in the area and Danny Hall side-footed home past Gary Hateley between the Bedworth sticks for his second goal of the season.
The second half wasn't much better, ex-Valley striker Paul White had Bedworth's best chance, glancing a looping header over the bar.
Both sides were poor and failed to string any sort of move together, but Rugby were solid at the back and didn't allow their hosts much scope to attack.
It took the simplest of balls to seal the game, as Adam Hart's long clearance wasn't dealt with by the home defence, and cup man Dave Pearson latched onto it, to lob delicately over Hateley who found himself in no man's land.
Hateley's troubles were increased soon after, when Justin Marsden's run ended with a cross which Hateley somehow managed to turn into his own net at the near-post.
The match was over by now, and Rugby had the confidence to actually play some football in the last ten minutes. A decent move saw Pearson glance a header onto the post from Dutton's cross and Marsden somehow missed from 6 yards as he pulled the ball down and turned only to see his angled effort eventually go out for a throw-in.
Rugby are into the next round which is a home tie against Dr Martens Premier side Hinckley United, and should take some confidence into the away game with Ilkeston next Saturday, only by the fact that they scored three goals despite playing poorly for the majority of the match.
Rugby United | Pearcey (Thomas), Moran, Williams, Hart, Herbert, Redgate, Hall (Shanahan), Dutton, Pearson, Marsden, Squire Subs | Commander, Thompson
Goals | Hall, Pearson, Own Goal
Bookings | None