Lineup

Stevie Wilson

Rory Squire

Adam Hart 

Delroy Gordon

Andy Peaks

Smeathers 

Chris Tullin

Rob Maddox

James Rowe 

Kevin Slinn 

Danny Williams

Subs Used

Matt Green

David Stone

Simeon Williams

Ryan Byrne

Richard Wesley

Despite a more spirited second half performance against a strong and skilful Nuneaton side, Rugby Town couldn't recover from the three goal first half deficit, when the visitors clearly showed that they would once more be a force to be reckoned with in their forthcoming Nationwide Conference North campaign.

Nuneaton 's early dominance led to many clear cut chances, and any one of the headers from Brian Quailey, Neil Moore and then Quailey again within the first 18 minutes could have easily opened the scoring.  The breakthrough finally came in the 28th minute when neat work from Gez Murphy released Quailey in the box, and he fired low and clinically into the left hand side of Stevie Wilson's goal.

Borough extended their advantage four minutes later when Stuart Whittaker's near post corner was flicked home by the head of Kevin Wilkin, and made it three just before half time when Quailey grabbed his second with a simple finish as Rugby's defence were again caught out by the opposition’s clever and incisive passing football.

Town's only chances of the half had both fallen to James Rowe, but he could only screw the ball into the side netting on 32 minutes, and then five minutes later saw his lob over the advancing keeper fall well wide of the post.

The second half introduction of David Stone for Rowe saw a change of fortune for the Valley, and for the first time in the game the Nuneaton defence looked troubled.  On 50 minutes a Stone cross only just eluded Kevin Slinn, and when Slinn turned provider for Stone shortly after, the young striker at first did everything right jinking past a couple of defenders before skying his effort high and wide.

On 63 minutes Stone had another great chance - again created by Slinn - but his shot was again poor and didn't trouble Ryan Poole in the Nuneaton goal.  Borough's best chance of the half came on 72 minutes when substitute Leon McSweeney's header was only just over the bar after a pinpoint cross from Stuart Whittaker.

The late introduction of triallist Glen Thompson provided fresh impetus for Rugby , and his well-placed through ball almost put Stone clear once more.  Thompson himself was unlucky on 82 minutes when his lobbed shot fell agonisingly wide of the goal after his fine individual run.  Robbie Maddox then chipped over four minutes from time after a good cross from Stone.

Teams

Rugby : Wilson , Squire (S.Williams 45), Hart (Green 67), Gordon, Peaks, Smeathers (Byrne 86), Tullin, Maddox, Rowe (Stone 45), Slinn (Wesley 81), D.Williams (Thompson 75).

Nuneaton : Poole, Staff, Love, Reeves, Moore , Wilkin, Collins, Noon, Quailey, Murphy, Whittaker.  Subs : McSweeney, Oddy, Breward, Blenkinsopp.

Attendance 298