AFC Telford United 1-1 Rugby Town

FA Cup First Qualifying Round

Saturday, 10th September 2005

Attendance | 1,065

Photo Gallery | The players celebrate Kevin Slinn's equaliser

A neatly-taken Kevin Slinn goal twenty minutes from the end of the game earned Rugby Town a well-deserved replay in front of over 1,000 supporters at the New Bucks Head in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round.

Manager Billy Jeffrey made two changes from the Gloucester game with Rob Maddox replacing Jon Nichols and new goalkeeper Richard Lavin, signed from Corby in pre-season, taking Stevie Wilson's place. 

However, the visitors had to endure a first half of pressure from Telford, who opened the score after ten minutes when Glenn Tolley's long range shot deflected into the path of striker Luke Reynolds, whose out-stretched leg steered the ball past debutant Rugby goalkeeper Lavin to give Telford the lead.

Rugby did well to keep the score at just one in the first twenty minutes with Kyle Perry and Reynolds coming close, and Lavin was called into action but he managed to hold onto a Tolley free kick, which was directed straight at the Valley goalkeeper.

Town came closest in the first half when Danny Williams whipped free-kick eluded the Telford defence but Rob Gould could not add to his season’s tally as he glanced a header disappointingly wide.

Rugby settled down a lot better towards the end of the first half and as the second half began it was the visitors who were looking the most likely to score.

Again, it was a Williams set-piece that caused problems in the Bucks’ penalty area, and David Stone should have done better with his header at the back post.

The breakthrough eventually came when a neat interchange down the left released Williams who made a penetrating run before cutting the ball back for substitute Jon Nichols, who shaped up to shoot before releasing a slide-rule pass to Kevin Slinn, who clipped the ball superbly into the corner past Stuart Brock from an angle inside the area.

Rugby could have snatched a win at the death with two chances, the best of which saw the ball bobble in the area, leaving Brock stranded and Rory Squire a clear, albeit awkward, shot at goal, but he couldn’t keep his effort down.

Valley boss Billy Jeffrey was pleased that his side bounced back from last week’s disappointment at Gloucester to gain the replay. “Again, the lads did well to come from behind and showed great character in the second half.  First half, we were off the pace, but in the last ten minutes, we looked the more likely winners."

The replay is to be played this Tuesday, 13th September at Butlin Road, kick-off 7.45pm.