|
Dr
Martens Western Division
Saturday,
10th April 2004
Attendance
| 289
Rugby
United |
1 |
0 |
Shepshed
Dynamo |
|
Hegarty
50 |
|
- |
| Match
Entertainment |
 |
| Match
Summary |
Scrappy
win |
Star
Man | Jason Pearcey |
Not
another vintage United performance, but once more
Pearcey was solid and kept a clean sheet brilliantly,
making important saves and controlling his area. |
For
the third consecutive game, Tony Dobson fielded the
same Rugby side that had lost to Taunton 1-0 and defeated
Mangotsfield two weeks prior to today's game.
Rugby's
attacking play was evident and Justin Marsden could
have had two inside the first five minutes, but he failed
to pull the trigger when he had space in the area.
However,
the pattern of play was set early on, with Shepshed
showing a glimmer of light on the counter-attack but
failing to produce the goods, as Jason Pearcey made
a comfortable save from Richard Byrne at the near post.
There
was little flowing football, and it was from long clearances
that a lot of chances arose for United. Pearcey's
long boot bounced its way to the edge of the Shepshed
area, and Robbie Beard's spectacular volley on the turn
was well dealt with by Richard Keeling in the visitor's
goal.
Midfielder
Wayne Armstrong tested Pearcey from thirty yards while
at the other end Craig Dutton could only fire wide from
an awkward angle outside the area.
The
best chance of the half fell to Jamie Williams after
Gary Moran had persisted down the right hand side to
swing in a cross. Shepshed's Duncan O'Brien misjudged
a header and the ball fell at the feet of Williams inside
the area, but despite the amount of time and space,
Rugby's left wingback dragged the shot wide, and also
away from the sliding Beard at the far post.
Moran
then provided a cross from a free-kick, from which Robbie
Beard's effort was blocked before Beard turned provider
to cross a ball in for Andy Commander, but he could
only head over from inside the six yard box against
his former club.
Rugby
took the lead just five minutes after the break when
another Pearcey kick wasn't dealt with by the Shepshed
defence and Beard raced clear before seeing his left-foot
shot half blocked by Keeling and trickle towards the
goal-line where Michael Hegarty was on hand to
tap home from two yards for his second Rugby goal.
Williams
was again the culprit of a missed opportunity when he
dragged another effort wide after waltzing through the
Shepshed rear-line, and a cleverly-taken Beard free-kick
provided Williams with another chance, but his shot
was easily saved by Keeling at the near post.
Adam
Hart made a fantastic tackle and block in the area as
Johnson lined up to pull the trigger to save Rugby's
three points and Rugby had a decent shout for a penalty
turned down as Moran was bundled over in the area.
As
Rugby failed to gain the additional goal, the tension
grew and Shepshed were creating the odd half chance,
but Pearcey stood up well to deny both Bestwick and
substitute Hook in the dying seconds.
Rugby
United | Pearcey, Moran, Williams, Hart, Commander,
Rutherford, Squire, Dutton, Beard, Marsden (Douglas),
Hegarty Subs | Thomas, Pearson,
Shanahan, Kattos
Bookings
|
|
