| Atherstone
Town 2-0 Rugby Town |
| Birmingham
Senior Cup 2nd Round |
Tuesday
10th October 2006
Attendance
| 152
|
Entertainment |
|
A weakened Rugby side made its customary
early exit from the Birmingham Senior Cup competition
on Tuesday night at Sheepy Road.
The
Valley starting line-up contained only two players
- Ross Harris
and Jason Taylor
- from that which had played in last Saturday's
draw at Tiverton, with manager Billy Jeffrey opting
to completely rest many of first choice eleven
ahead of the crunch FA Cup tie against Chelmsford
this weekend.
The
game gave an opportunity of a first team start
for a number of players on the fringe of the first
team squad and from the reserves, including recent
signing Fabien Smith and highly-rated young striker
David Kolodynski. Willis Francis, who missed the
Tiverton game through suspension, was also in
the side.
The
host’s long ball tactics had the relatively inexperienced
Rugby defence on the back foot from the off, and
keeper Simon Lynn needed to be quick from his
line to gather a number of dangerous through-balls.
The
Adders took the lead after 23 minutes when Cameron
Stuart was on-hand to poke home from close range
when the ball fell to him after Rugby had failed
to clear their lines properly - with a large suspicion
of offside.
Rugby's
clearest opportunity of the half fell to Jason
Taylor, but he was denied by a comfortable save
from Richard Williams.
The
second period continued in a similar manner to
the first, with the visitors' neat football failing
to create much impact in the final third of the
pitch, and the home side opting to persist with
their direct approach.
Atherstone
doubled their advantage on 60 minutes when Ray
Hackett was harshly adjudged to have handled in
the box, and Roy Dunkley, who started two games
for the Valley in 2002, stepped up to punish his
former club with a decisive strike from the penalty
spot.
Bolstered
by introduction of Matt Gearing, Chris Tullin
and David Stone from the substitutes' bench, Rugby
attacking threat increased in the later stages
of the game.
A
crisply struck effort from Francis flew narrowly
over the bar, and Taylor's header was only just
off-target.
Rugby
themselves had a penalty appeal for handball turned
down, with another ex-Valley player Gary Redgate
escaping punishment for the apparent infringement.
Their
best chance of the night fell to Taylor late in
the game, but he failed to trouble Williams with
his flicked effort, after good interplay on the
wing between Tullin and Stone.
Report
by Jon Venner.
Links
>> Atherstone
Town Website: The Adders
|
