Saturday 14th October 2006

Attendance | 546

	Midfielder Willis Francis clears the ball during the first half in front of a large Chelmsford contingent

The Valley's FA Cup dreams for the season were shattered last Saturday when three second half Chelmsford goals cancelled out Jason Taylor's 23rd minute opener from the penalty spot.

A large crowd of 546 was in attendance at Butlin Road, and they were treated to a typically tense cup tie with a place in the final qualifying round of the competition at stake.

The visitors probably just about edged it in terms of performance by virtue of the clinical manner in which they killed off the game. However, without doubt, Town created the better goalscoring opportunities on the day, and Clarets' keeper Richard McKinney pulled off a string of excellent saves to ensure his team’s progress.

Rugby manager Billy Jeffrey recalled Willis Francis to the centre of his midfield, and the first chance of the game fell to him, but he blasted his shot from edge of the box over the bar.

Aaron Stringfellow was also on the end of a couple of good attacking moves by Town, but failed to stretch McKinney on either occasion.

Chelmsford's best early opportunities fell to dangerous attacking midfielder Jeff Minton. His first effort skimmed narrowly wide of the post, and then minutes later he was only just unable to get his shot off, when crowded out on the edge of the area by a watchful Rugby defence.

Jay Conroy tested Farhad Afandiyev when he finished a fine run with a powerful strike, but the Azerbaijani keeper produced a fingertip save, helping the ball out for a corner.

Valley made the breakthrough mid-way through the half when Chris Tullin's deep cross from the left was taken down by Matt Gearing, and then the tricky winger was hacked down by Fiston Manuella, leaving the referee no alternative but to award a penalty.

Jason Taylor calmly stroked the spot kick home for his ninth goal of the season - and his fifth in the competition - sending it into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Rugby were back at their opponents shortly after the restart, with Gearing forcing McKinney into a close range save from his goal bound header.

On 36 minutes Taylor broke through the centre of the Chelmsford defence and advanced at pace on goal. His resulting shot was well-struck and on-target, but McKinney flung himself across to deny Rugby a second time.

At the other end, Chris Duffy only just failed to capitalise in a rare moment of panic in the Rugby penalty area, and just before the half-time whistle Mario Noto sliced his effort wide of the near post when he had got in behind the defence on the left hand edge of the box.

The first chance of the second period saw Stuart Ainsley float his free-kick onto the roof of the Valley net, but this marked the start of Town's best spell of the match.

Whereas in the first half, they had been too reliant on long, direct balls over the top of the Chelmsford back-line, Rugby now started to play the crisp, free-flowing passing football that had served them so well in their previous three matches against Ilkeston, Halesowen and Tiverton.

David Stone was starting to frighten opponents with his pace, and in one excellent move he managed to weave his way past a number of City defenders, before drawing yet another fine save from McKinney.

Chris Tullin's deep cross almost caught McKinney by surprise and had the one-time Manchester City stopper back pedalling towards his goal, forcing him to tip it over the crossbar. From the resulting corner, a Chelmsford head helped the ball goalwards, but McKinney was again in the right place to avert the danger.

Ironically this up-turn in Rugby's performance directly preceded the Chelmsford equaliser, when on 53 minutes Duffy broke free of his marker and found himself in yards of space behind the Rugby defence.

Despite the desperate efforts of Tullin on the Rugby line, Duffy then placed the ball wide of Afandiyev and into the net to make the game all-square.

Duffy had an opportunity to double his tally shortly after, when he was picked out in a crowded box by Jason Hallett, but this time his finish was wayward.

On 65 minutes Taylor again found himself one-on-one with McKinney, but once more the keeper was able to block his shot, and the ball rebounded out to Stone - who was unable to get a decent contact on his follow-up effort.

Chelmsford took the lead four minutes later when Taylor's headed clearance from a corner fell at the feet of Tony Battersby, and his sweetly struck drive gave Afandiyev no chance.

With the away side now playing with renewed confidence and utilising every trick in the book to run down the clock, the young Rugby side appeared to run out of ideas and an equaliser looked increasingly unlikely.

A handful of half chances did come their way though, but Taylor's header and Danny Hall's long range shot failed to trouble McKinney.

With four minutes of normal time on the clock - and a considerable amount due in added-time - Chelmsford struck the killer blow. Minton helped on a drop-kick from his keeper and found substitute Ricky Holmes, who executed a perfect half-volley into the top of the net, with Afandiyev still struggling to make it back into his goal - having ventured forward shortly before for a Rugby corner.

Gearing then sent his effort from an acute angle into the side netting, but the game was all but over, despite the extended period of play in the second half, and the Valley's 2006 F.A.Cup adventure had come to an end.

Report by Jon Venner.

Rugby Lineup From:

	Farhad Afandiyev
	Ross Harris Booked
	Chris Tullin
	Craig Herbert (c)
	Delroy Gordon
	Danny Hall
	MATTHEW GEARING Star Man
	Willis Francis
	Jason Taylor Scored 1 (p)
	David Stone
	Aaron Stringfellow

Used Substitutes

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