|
Dr
Martens Western Division
Saturday,
7th February 2004
Attendance
| 285
Rugby
United |
2 |
1 |
Swindon
Supermarine |
|
Dutton
23
Marsden
72 |
|
Miller
26 |
| Match
Entertainment |
 |
| Match
Summary |
Did just
enough in another nervy performance |
Star
Man | Andy Rutherford |
Once
more put in a solid performance, and showed great
composure on the ball at times to create attacking
opportunities. |
Top-scorer
Robbie Beard and captain Craig Herbert were both serving
the first match of their 2- and 3-match suspensions,
which meant starting places for Dave Pearson, up front
with Justin Marsden, and for Andy Commander, who has
returned after a flu infection. Jamie Williams
was still unavailable due to illness.
Rugby
started brightly on a good Butlin Road pitch, and had
most of the early play, with Dave Pearson's pace causing
problems for the visitors, who had won just one game
from their last ten. Craig Dutton's long pass
found Pearson in space, but as he waited for the ball
to drop, Marine defender James Blastland did just enough
to force the Rugby striker to fire wide.
Pearson
was thwarted minutes later by Swindon keeper Tom King
after Andy Commander's long ball, and King was on hand
again to pick up a loose ball after Justin Marsden had
slipped trying to control Pearson's pass into the area.
The
home side's pressure finally told after 23 minutes,
when Gary Moran's long throw-in was not dealt with by
the Swindon defence and midfielder Craig Dutton was
on hand to crisply drive home into the bottom corner
from the edge of the area for his fifth goal of the
season.
However,
Rugby were stunned just minutes later, as Swindon midfielder
Justin Miller produced a superb 35-yard effort,
lobbing a helpless Jason Pearcey and into the net.
Miller attempted to recreate his stunning goal from
a set-piece but managed to almost clear the stand.
Marsden
could have given United a 2-1 lead as Rugby tried to
retaliate to Swindon's equaliser, but the 19-year-old
could only direct his shot just wide of the goal.
Valley
failed to get going at all in the second half, and allowed
the visitors to get into the game, although Michael
Hegarty had a long range effort which didn't trouble
King.
Dobson,
who was banned from the touchline after his sending-off
against Bromsgrove in November, was watching his side
on their way to a disappointing draw, but his assistant
Steve Shea threw on strikers Emeka Ejiofor and Kevin
Charley to rekindle the attacking play.
A
mistake at the heart of the Valley defence almost let
Swindon's Alan Young clean through on goal, but Nathan
Thompson did well to just about scramble the ball away.
The ball was only cleared as far as Nathan Edwards who
shot, and Jason Pearcey had his post the thank as he
sprawled across the goal.
Rugby
didn't really look like scoring, but after a long clearance
by Jason Pearcey, Charley and Ejiofor combined to eventually
lay the ball off for Justin Marsden, who thrashed
the ball home from 12 yards.
With
still twenty minutes to go, Rugby could have done better
with their attacking opportunities, but the final ball
was lacking, something the home side nearly lived to
regret as Swindon gradually applied more pressure.
In
the very last minute, Marine nearly stole a point, but
Glen Armstrong's effort was aimed straight at a relieved
Jason Pearcey, who clung onto the ball.
Rugby
United | Pearcey, Moran, Thompson (Kattos), Hart,
Commander, Rutherford, Squire, Dutton, Pearson (Charley),
Marsden, Hegarty (Ejiofor) Subs | Thomas,
Shanahan
Bookings
|
None |
