|
Dr
Martens Western Division
Saturday,
20th September 2003
Attendance
| 319
Rugby
United |
0 |
1 |
Team
Bath |
|
Beard
off 73 |
|
Reeves
83 |
| Match
Entertainment |
 |
Star
Man | Jason Pearcey |
Kept
Rugby in the game throughout the game with some
smart saves. Could do nothing for the goal
but dominated his area. |
Team
Bath made their first trip to Butlin Road and soundly
defeated their hosts, with a slick display of passing
and moving inflicting Rugby's second home defeat of
the season, leaving all fans wondering why the students
were languishing in 16th place before the game.
The
pristine Butlin Road pitch certainly suited the Team
Bath style of play, as they played some nice moves at
times, and used their width superbly.
However,
it was often finishing that let the visitors down -
Matt Lewis' perfectly placed cross was headed by Chris
Holland who was denied by a superb reflex from Jason
Pearcey.
Again
the students should have taken an early lead as the
lively Luke Prince crafted himself some room on the
left hand side before curling a ball into the far post
where all Chris Lewis had to do was connect with it
- but the ball somehow eluded him.
Pearcey
was called into action as he tipped Chris Lewis' effort
from the edge of the area onto the post and behind.
From eth resulting corner, Holland connected with a
free header and when the visitors finally found a way
past Pearcey, Jamie Williams was on hand to clear off
the line.
Rugby's
first real attempt came just before half time as Craig
Dutton's flagkick was agonisingly headed just over by
Williams as the ball rustled on the roof of the net.
After
bringing Danny Hall on to replace Dave Pearson early
in the second half to galvanize the midfield, it seemed
to give Rugby something extra, but it still wasn't nearly
enough as Team Bath continued to have the greater possession.
Rugby
had a let-off when Prince's delicately chipped cross
just didn't manage to find a Team Bath shirt while Gary
Redgate was called into action blocking a Chris Lewis
effort.
For
all of their possession, Team Bath didn't really create
a chance that they would have felt too guilty about
missing and when Robbie Beard received his marching
orders on 73 minutes after foul and abusive language
to the linesman, it seemed like it was inevitable that
they would find the gap to score.
However,
plying his trade on his own upfront, Justin Marsden
began to cause problems, twice cutting in but the 10-men
struggled to get men into the box, and then found some
room before firing across the keeper who tipped around
the post.
The
breakthrough came for the visitors with an appropriately
slick move, as substitute Chris Reeves combined superbly
with David Blake who played in the midfielder to slot
home with ease as he bore down on Pearcey's goal.
It
was a disappointing result, but in all fairness it was
Team Bath's good play that won them the game.
Rugby
United | Pearcey, Moran, Williams, Hart, Commander,
Redgate, Squire (Gordon), Dutton, Beard, Pearson (Hall),
Marsden Subs | Shepherd, Shanahan, Thompson
Goals
| None
Sent
Off
| Beard 73 |
