|
Dr
Martens Western Division
Saturday,
28th February 2004
Attendance
| 381
Rugby
United |
1 |
0 |
Halesowen
Town |
|
Marsden
36 |
|
|
| Match
Entertainment |
 |
| Match
Summary |
At last
some good football at home, and a result to match |
Star
Man | Jamie Williams |
There
were several good performers today, but Williams
seemed to be getting back to his best as he played
a large part in the only goal of the day |
The
pressure had mounted over the week after the 2-3 defeat
to Redditch United, especially as the re-structuring
was passed through, but Tony Dobson made no changes
out of choice for the visit of high-flying Halesowen.
Craig Herbert, who was eligible to play after serving
his 3-match ban, did not play due to his ongoing back
injury, while Andy Rutherford came down with the flu,
meaning a start for Andreas Kattos.
The
game was evenly matched in the opening ten minutes,
and the first chance came after Robbie Beard was upended
on the end of the area and Rugby's diminutive number
nine picked himself up to curl the ball narrowly over
the bar.
Tony
Hemmings, a late replacement for Richard Ball who had
left for Stourport on Friday, made progress down the
right-hand side for Halesowen after seven minutes, but
Jason Moore, the league's top scorer, sliced the ball
over Jason Pearcey's bar.
Up
until the 25-minute mark, Rugby could not get a strangle-hold
on the game and Halesowen had ten minutes of sustained
pressure including several corners, but failed to carve
out a decent opportunity.
On
15 minutes, against the run of play, Craig Dutton carried
the ball forward before sliding a splendid ball inside
the full-back for Justin Marsden to run onto, but Mark
Sheils raced out to smother the chance while at the
other end, the Yeltz had a penalty appeal turned down
for handball after Simon Forsdick's run into the box.
Valley
then started to get on top and Michael Hegarty began
to pull some stings in midfield, including setting up
Dutton, who forced Sheils to save comfortably from 20
yards before Beard skewed an effort over the bar after
a Williams free-kick.
The
visitors almost got lucky with half an hour on the clock,
when Jason Pearcey could only watch as Forsdick's deep
cross rebounded off the crossbar.
Jamie
Williams then played a massive role in the only goal
of the game on 36 minutes, as his persistent and skilful
run in the box resulted in a low cross, which was cleared
out of the six yard box by Asa Charlton. Then
from the resulting Williams corner, Dutton headed goal
wards and Justin Marsden nodded the ball into
the net over Sheils.
After
the break, Rugby played some more good football, and
Robbie Beard was making dangerous runs at the Yeltz
defence. One of these runs just after half-time set
up Dutton, whose effort stung the hands of Sheils, although
he managed to hold onto it.
Hemmings
dragged a shot wide for Halesowen before Marsden nearly
scored a carbon copy of his first goal after Dutton
had headed Williams' header towards the goal, but Darren
Grocutt made a good defensive header.
Valley
were exposed down their left-hand side when Simon Hollis
found some space and his cross found its way to Moore,
who had his goal-bound effort blocked superbly by Adam
Hart.
Another
Beard run gave Gary Moran a rare sight of goal, and
the right-wing back made the goalkeeper work from the
edge of the area before Pearcey made a superb reflex
save from substitute Alfie Carter following his powerful
effort from eight yards. Carter
was involved again minutes later, but his effort deflected
kindly off Hemmings straight into the path of Pearcey.
As
the time ticked on without Rugby getting a second goal,
the visitors applied more and more pressure, but unlike
last week Valley stood strong and rode their luck slightly.
Halesowen
pushed forwards, and Valley should have extended their
lead when Marsden robbed Grocutt of the ball, but with
Beard in support, he could only win a corner.
Carter
saw a looping header easily saved by Pearcey as Halesowen
increasingly resorted to long ball in the closing stages,
and substitute Lewis Baker was unlucky to see his effort
to rebound off the crossbar.
Rugby
held on, with Andreas Kattos making a couple of vital
challenges as Moore threatened and showed that they
did have the character to hold onto a win.
Rugby
United | Pearcey, Moran, Williams, Hart, Commander,
Kattos, Squire, Dutton, Beard, Marsden (Gordon), Hegarty
(Shanahan) Subs | Thomas, Pearson
Bookings
|
Shanahan |
