Rugby Town 0-0 Chippenham Town

Southern League Premier Division

Saturday, 8th April 2006

Attendance | 256

Photo Gallery | Valley players watch as Chippenham hit the bar

It certainly wasn't a classic footballing encounter at Butlin Road on Saturday, but Rugby once more showed grit and determination a plenty against SLPD play-off certainties Chippenham to grind out their fourth goalless draw of the season.

As in the previous week's literal mud Bath at Twerton Park, once more the prevailing weather conditions were a considerable factor in the game, with this time a powerful, swirling wind enforcing limitations on both sides' ability to play attractive football.

Manager Billy Jeffrey made one change for the game, giving a first start to youth team striker Matt Wells in place of Kevin Slinn, and the youngster responded well with a battling performance leading the line against a strong Bluebirds rearguard.

Goalscoring chances were in short supply for Rugby in the first period, with Delroy Gordon's blocked effort halfway through the half after a scramble in the penalty area from Matt Green's long throw representing their best opportunity.

The visitors, desperate for a victory to maintain their remote hopes of securing the league title, did threaten spasmodically, but a combination of their lack of conviction in front of goal and rugged defending from the Valley kept the game scoreless.

Sam Allison was the prime threat to Rugby throughout, and in the game's opening minutes he forced a fine save from Farhad Afandiyev and then shortly after Tim Wooding was on hand to clear his dangerous cross for a corner.

Afandiyev again saved well from a Nick Stanley volley from close range on 26 minutes, and then Allison turned his shot just wide of the post after good work on the left from Dave Gilroy. Afandiyev also pulled out another good stop from Stanley shortly before the half-time break.

With the wind primarily behind their backs, it was expected that Chippenham would come out for the second period all guns blazing, but it was the home side that appeared the start the half the better, with Wells and David Stone combining well up-front, only for Matthew McEntegart to snuff out a promising attacking move.

The best opportunity of the entire match came on 56 minutes, when Afandiyev misread a high ball into the box, allowing Allison a clear shot at goal. Fortunately for Rugby, Chris Tullin made a desperate goal-line clearance which saw the ball bounce up onto the crossbar. Tullin and Afandiyev then combined to block two successive follow-ups by Gilroy, and the danger was averted.

Wooding's 61st minute free-kick from the edge of the box, after Wells had been hauled down there, curled only fractionally over Steve Perrin's goal, and Steve Evans could have done better when blasting his volley high into allotments later in the half.

With the Chippenham players and management team getting increasingly and vociferously frustrated at their lack of progress, it became a scrappy and at-times ill tempered affair for the remainder of the game - which tested the abilities of an over-officious match referee.

Valley took advantage of their opponents' diminishing confidence, and mounted a short spell of pressure in the closing minutes. Ryan Byrne and Evans combined well on the left-hand side, and Matthew Gearing headed down the latter’s cross into a dangerous area, but Stone was unable to pull the ball back towards goal.

Stone then beat a number of Chippenham defenders with a pacy run, then was unfortunate not to release strike partner Wells with his through ball.

There was still time for the vistors to snatch the victory in the lengthy spell of added-on time, when Allison pounced on another defensive error - this time from Tullin - but again he was unable to hit the target with his shot.