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Rugby
Town 2-2 Mangotsfield United
Southern
League Premier Division
Saturday,
13th August 2005
Official
Website
| Entertainment |
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Attendance
| 327
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On-loan
defender Rob Gould in an aerial challenge
he went on to give Rugby a second half lead. (photo
courtesy of Bob Smale) |
A
rain-drenched Butlin Road played host to an entertaining
opening draw between Rugby and Mangotsfield.
There
were 12 debutants for Rugby with only Rory Squire having
played for Valley before.
Rugby
fell behind against the run of play when Stuart Smeathers'
back header went straight to Mangotsfield forward Rob
Claridge and he scrambled into the area and pulled the
ball back for Chris Lane who scuffed his effort,
but in the wet conditions it was enough to beat Stevie
Wilson between the sticks.
Mangotsfield
then dominated the rest of the first half and Wilson
was forced to make a good save from striker Jason Eaton
after ex-Team Bath player Luke Prince's cross.
Rugby
introduced young striker David Stone for the second
half and he equalised after he closed down goalkeeper
Greaves and the ball bounced loose for Stone
to slot the ball home.
Moments
later Stone unleashed a rasping 25-yard strike which
Greaves did well to parry behind before Mangotsfield
nearly re-took the lead on the break.
A
fine piece of defending by Rugby denied Mangotsfield
a lead when Lane produced a superb reaction save from
Wilson before Delroy Gordon headed Lee Howells' goalbound
effort off the line.
Valley
then took the lead on 67 minutes with Kettering Town
loanee Rob Gould powerfully heading home from
Danny Williams' brilliantly executed corner.
The
lead was short lived though, as a deep ball was played
into the box and striker Rob Claridge squared
things up with an equally impressive header.
Both
sides could have clinched it at the death with Stone
stealing the ball off the Mangotsfield goalkeeper again
but he failed to setup Rowe to shoot at the open goal.
Then
seconds later Elliot Wilmot sent in a rasping strike
which luckily for Town bounced off the outside of the
post. |
