|
Dr
Martens Western Division
Saturday,
16th August 2003
Attendance
| 274
Rugby
United |
1 |
0 |
Gloucester
City |
|
Beard
37 |
|
|
Star
Man | Justin Marsden
|
His
skilful dribbling caused the Tigers' defence problems
all afternoon and should have got on the scoresheet.
Made Beardy's goal with one of his runs down the
left before cutting it back. |
Rugby United outmaneuvered fellow promotion hopefuls
Gloucester City at Butlin Road in a tightly-fought opening
day encounter.
In
a close 20 minute opening spell, neither side could
stamp their authority on the game, as very few chances
were created. However, Rugby started to get to
grips with the Tigers, who they defeated last season
by the same scoreline, and strikers Justin Marsden and
Robbie Beard began to cause problems.
Beard,
who was looking lively and confident, turned brilliantly
in the box and fired a shot in at the near post, only
to see it blocked away by City number one, Matt Bath
before Marsden shot weakly into Bath's hands after a
powerful run.
The
breakthrough came in the 37th minute when Marsden made
himself some space on the left-hand side and cut the
ball back to Beard, who slotted home unmarked
from eight yards with the visiting defence nowhere to
be seen.
The
United front two caused more problems after the break,
and Marsden crossed for debutant Aaron Shanahan, but
his weak effort was easily saved with only the goalkeeper
to beat.
Midfielder
Craig Dutton had a great chance as he took a touch to
compose himself on the edge of the area, before hammering
the ball against the post.
Gloucester's
only threats appeared to be from set pieces as they
pumped the ball forward into the box, although Jason
Pearcey was having a fantastic game in the Rugby goal,
dominating his penalty area.
The
Tigers failed to produce a shot on target all afternoon,
and their best chance came Pearcey cleared a corner
only as far as player/manager Chris Burns, who fired
wide past the goal and a body of United defenders, who
began their season with a clean sheet.
Rugby
were catching Gloucester on the counter-attack, and
Bath did well to parry from Beard and Marsden twice,
before substitute Neil Melvin flashed the ball past
the post.
A
confident display and a winning start to the season
in which Valley battled a win and kept their shape despite
being under pressure from 12 corners in the closing
minutes, limiting the Tigers to no real chances.
Rugby
United | Pearcey, Moran, Thompson (Williams), Hart,
Herbert, Redgate, Hall, Dutton, Beard (Squire), Marsden,
Shanahan (Melvin) Subs | Thomas (gk), Pearson
Goal
| Beard
Booking
| Hall
Visit
Rugby
United Unofficial for Match Report |
