|
Dr
Martens Western Division
Saturday,
17th April 2004
Attendance
| 456
Halesowen
Town |
1 |
0 |
Rugby
United |
|
Charlton
37 pen |
|
-
|
| Match
Entertainment |
|
| Match
Summary |
Halesowen
won the first half, Rugby should have won the
second |
Gary
Redgate made a welcome return to the Rugby United squad
after missing much of the season with a broken leg which
he sustained in November, and he was joined on the bench
by club captain Craig Herbert, with Michael Hegarty
moving back into the midfield after recovering from
an ankle injury which had kept him out of the Bedworth
game.
The
game started at a quick tempo, but Rugby failed to hold
onto possession in the early stages and Halesowen mounted
some pressure on the visitors with successive corners.
Halesowen
registered the first shot on goal, with Stuart Skidmore
aiming the ball just over Jason Pearcey's bar from the
edge of the area.
One
of the main features of the games was free-kicks, and
Robbie Beard had two attempts from 25 yards blocked
by the wall during the first half and from one of these
Beard curled the ball just over the bar, but it was
the home side who had all of the possession in the opening
45 minutes. However, the Yeltz failed to make
to much of their play on a bobbly pitch and were restricted
to few chances by the visiting defence.
Rugby's
best chance arrived when Justin Marsden stole the ball
from Jones and headed towards goal from the flank, but
he flashed his effort just past the post, with Beard
just too far back to connect.
The
breakthrough cam in the thirty-seventh minute when Yeltz
striker Jimmy Haarhoff was allegedly bundled over by
Andy Rutherford on the very edge of the area, but the
referee had no hesitation in immediately awarding penalty
despite the fact that Haarhoff appeared to be ignoring
the ball so that he could be fouled. Captain Asa
Charlton made no mistake from the ensuing spot-kick,
ramming the ball into the corner of the net which would
have left Pearcey no change even if he had of dived
the right way.
Ex-Birmingham
City forward Haarhoff seemed intent to roll around on
the floor anytime he was touched, and he proved this
minutes later by hurling himself at Pearcey in the penalty
area, but the referee had no interest.
The
second half proved to be a different affair with Rugby
dominating the attacking play as Andy Commander came
close early on, but he headed wide from Michael Hegarty's
cross.
Simon
Forsdick broke down the left-hand side when Commander
misjudged the bounce of the ball, but David Foy could
only poke the ball wide from Forsdick's centre.
Mark
Shiels was not making the most confident display underneath
the sticks, but did enough in the end to keep Rugby
at bay. He almost gifted Rugby with a goal when
he rolled the ball straight out to Beard, but luck was
shining on Halesowen and he managed to re-collect the
ball.
Another
Beard free-kick forced Shiels into a comfortable save,
while the Beard again produced another rasping effort
which Shiels spilled into the six yard box with Craig
Dutton and Justin Marsden prying, but again he was fortunate
to gain control of the ball again.
Shiels
redeemed some of his pride when he tipped the ball over
the bar from Gary Moran's long-range left-foot strike,
and he was lucky when he misjudged a corner and Commander
nearly found the net with a header but it was well headed
off the line.
Rugby's
best chance of the second half fell to Marsden when
he was played through by Dutton, but Shiels pulled off
a good save at the near post from point-blank range.
Halesowen
could have doubled their lead in the last five minutes
but substitute Alfie Carter spurned two opportunities
as Rugby fell asleep at the back.
Rugby
United | Pearcey, Moran (Charley) , Williams, Hart,
Commander, Rutherford, Squire, Dutton, Beard, Marsden,
Hegarty (Pearson) Subs | Thomas (gk), Redgate,
Herbert
Bookings
|
Dutton |
