| Banbury
United 2-3 Rugby Town |
| BGB
Premier Division |
Saturday
28th October 2006
Attendance
| 464
|
Entertainment |
|
 |
 |
Striker
David Stone ended his 10-game goal drought
with a fine goal to get Rugby back into the
game |
Matt
Gearing's crashing 25-yard volley two minutes
from time completed a memorable comeback against
Banbury United at the Spencer Stadium.
Rugby
found themselves two goals down with little over
half an hour remaining, but they young Valley
side kept going until the end to record a fine
win.
Manager
Billy Jeffrey
made one change, installing Danny
Hall - who was missing for the
defeat to Hanwell the week before, instead of
Tom Breward
in the centre of midfield.
Both
sides rarely threatened the goal in the first
half but Rugby started brightly enough without
really troubling the Banbury goal. The best chance
of the half fell to Matt Gearing who, after good
interplay with Jason Taylor, skewed his 15-yard
effort high and wide.
Danny
Hall also saw a rocket of a shot, which was destined
for the roof of the net, blocked by ex-Valley
defender Kieran Sullivan - who bravely took the
blow to the face.
The
home side were content to play direct, long balls
forward and their tactics got them into the game
ten minutes before the break with a spell of pressure
on the Rugby goal - without troubling Farhad Afandiyev.
Their best chance came as Ollie Stanbrige missed
the target from close range after Howard Forinton's
pull-back.
The
tightness of the first half which had seen both
defences firmly on top was contrasted in the second
with a more open and attacking game.
Banbury
took the lead soon after the break when Ross Harris'
poor clearance came straight to George Redknapp
who composed himself before unleashing an unstoppable
25-yard strike which evaded Afandiyev's fully-stretched
left hand and nestled into the corner.
The
home side, buoyed by the Puritan fans behind the
goal, had a renewed confidence and had their best
spell of the game in which they also doubled their
lead. A neat move involved Forinton, Andy Baird
and Ady Fuller resulted in a low cross to the
back post which found the unmarked Darren Pond
who fired home from 8 yards.
This
goal, along with the introduction of youth team
player David Kolodynski, seemed to bounce Rugby
into life and it took an excellent team goal just
five minutes after Banbury's second to really
kick the visitors into gear.
Passing
the ball from the back, a superb interchange between
Chris Tullin, Taylor & Gearing made room for
Danny Hall in the centre of the park who slid
a ball to an unmarked David
Stone, whose rising right footed
effort left Banbury goalkeeper Alan Judge watching
the ball find the top corner.
Valley
were very much in the ascendancy and it was no
surprise to see the young sky blues net the equaliser.
Stone managed to get on the end of Taylor's improbable
through-pass to take it round the goalkeeper before
a goal-mouth scramble ensued. The ball found it's
way to Gearing on the left-hand side whose precise
cross was headed home by Willis
Francis for his first goal of
the season.
The
home side attempted to gain the initiative as
Baird saw his effort smartly turned round the
post by Afandiyev, but the momentum was firmly
with Rugby who pressed for the winner - which
came in spectacular fashion.
Out
of nowhere left midfielder Matt
Gearing picked up on the ball
outside the area before sending in an unstoppable
25-yard dipping volley which found the back of
the net to claim all three points and send the
away support home happy.
Links
>> Around
the League: Banbury United
>>
Previous
Meetings: Rugby v Banbury
>> Official
Banbury United FC Website
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