|
Dr
Martens Western Division
Saturday,
31st January 2004
Attendance
| 89
Team
Bath |
0 |
2 |
Rugby
United |
|
|
|
Squire
58
Beard
78 |
| Match
Entertainment |
 |
| Match
Summary |
Battling
well-deserved win |
Star
Man | Nathan Thompson |
The
left wing-back had a fine game popping up all
over the park. His link-up play was typically
good and produced a battling performance. |
Rugby
United were finally able to pick a side without players
playing out of position, with Rory Squire returning
to the starting line-up in midfield after missing Tuesday's
draw with Yate Town due to his college studies, replacing
Jamie Williams, who was dropped from the squad altogether.
It
seemed a good day to be playing Team Bath - a team that
had ran rings around Rugby at Butlin Road footballing-wise
in September - as there was gale-force winds and driving
rain, making slick passing a near impossiblility.
The
students started the game kicking into the wind, and
after five minutes, they nearly made the conditions
count, with Andy Tilson's inswinging cross resulting
in Danny Maye heading wide.
Team
Bath striker Andy Gillingham should have taken the lead
soon after, when he rounded Adam Hart, but he could
only fire wide of the post with Jason Pearcey's goal
begging.
A
Gillingham corner was then whipped in dangerous with
the help of the wind, but Pearcey managed to scramble
the ball away from underneath his own crossbar before
Gary Moran did well to block Tisdale's shot following
Chris Lewis' shot.
The
home side continued to pressure with the wind advantage,
and Pearcey made a good save from Chris Lewis, who scored
the only goal in Team Bath's win at Butlin Road earlier
in the season.
Valley
took a while to come to terms with the conditions and
on the half hour they were allowed their first opportunity
as Tilson's back-pass let in Robbie Beard, but his effort
was far too weak to trouble Ali Hines before Justin
Marsden tried from long range, but could only put the
ball over the bar with Hines off his line.
Just
before the break, Hines was forced to save at his near
post from Marsden's cross-cum-shot, while Gillingham
could have given the university side the lead once more,
but he glanced an Andy Fullam cross wide.
After
the break it was Rugby who could press on in the blustery
conditions, but first they had to survive a scare when
captain Craig Herbert's back-pass was short, but Gillingham
could only succeed in poking the ball past Pearcey and
into a position too wide.
Rugby's
fortunes took a turn for the better near the hour mark,
as Michael Hegarty's corner was headed onto the bar
by defender Adam Hart before Rory Squire nodded
home the rebound, to confirm his growing aerial prowess
from set-pieces.
Jason
Pearcey was called into action five minutes after the
goal, as he saved well from Saunders' drive after Tisdale's
cross.
Rugby
top-scorer Robbie Beard confirmed the win with
twelve minutes remaining, when he typically picked the
ball up before rounding a couple of defenders and coolly
slotting home in style for his seventeenth league goal
of the campaign.
Rugby
United | Pearcey, Moran, Thompson, Hart, Herbert,
Rutherford, Squire, Dutton, Beard, Marsden, Hegarty
Subs | Thomas (gk), Commander,
Pearson, Shanahan
Bookings
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