Saturday 18th November 2006

Attendance | 479

	See Delroy Gordon net the winner seven minutes from time

Valley manager Billy Jeffrey had a full squad to choose from with both Danny Hall & Delroy Gordon passing late fitness tests - and both players' inclusions turned out to be vital.

Rugby were behind virtually from the kick-off as Gordon sold a pass across his own area short and Dave Gilroy stole in to net an early lead for the Bluebirds.

Valley were soon level after they were awarded a penalty when defender Simon Charity was adjudged to have brought down David Stone and despite seeing his initial spot kick and first rebound saved, top scorer Jason Taylor netted at the third attempt for his twelfth goal of the campaign.

The home side immediately had a chance to re-take the lead when Sam Allison's cross found Alan Griffin, but Farhad Afandiyev made a terrific save with his legs to deny to forward.

Rugby soon found their rhythm and started to cause problems with the running of Matt Gearing and David Stone. The pair combined with Stone’s mazy run finding Gearing whose cross was well intercepted by goalkeeper Steve Perrin, who had to be on his toes to deny Taylor with a shooting chance.

Stone and Chris Tullin then exchanged passes in a flowing Rugby move before setting up an on-rushing Gearing who saw his effort whistle past the post with Perrin stranded.

The home side were playing direct, counter-attacking football and despite having decent possession in wide positions, the delivery was often lacking and enabled Rugby to mount some good pressure for the remaining ten minutes of the half.

The best chance of the half fell to Aaron Stringfellow five minutes before the break when Willis Francis’ through-ball found the 18-year old right sided player who cut inside and produced a rasping drive from the edge of the area which was well parried by Perrin.

The whistle for the start of the second half brought about a change of momentum and Chippenham were straight out of the blocks shooting towards their own fans. After a short spell of intense pressure, the Bluebirds had regained the lead when Valley failed to clear Allison's corner and after Ross Harris' off the line clearance, Ross Adams was on hand to smash the ball home from close range.

Spurred on by the goal and the vocal home support, Chippenham had their best spell of the game with a spell of pressure on the Valley goal but they found Rugby goalkeeper Farhad Afandiyev and the Rugby defence in great form.

Afandiyev firstly denied Gilroy with a fingertip save before last-ditch tackles from Francis and captain Craig Herbert denied Griffin.

After surviving the mini onslaught, Rugby were soon into the game again as Stone headed wide from Tullin’s deep cross and Francis saw a long range effort well saved.

Valley showed great determination and were level when the outstanding Gearing's run resulted in a ball back to Danny Hall who took a touch before unleashing an unstoppable effort from 25 yards.

Star man Stone was cutting the Chippenham defence to ribbons in the final twenty minutes and when he stole the ball from defender Charity and cut the ball back to Gearing from six yards it looked a certain goal, but October's Player of the Month fired over with the goal gaping.

Stone again produced some magic when he jinked inside from the left hand side and saw his deflected shot whistle just wide of the post and from the resulting corner, Rugby claimed their first ever win over Chippenham.

Hall received the ball from the short corner and his whipped cross caught the Bluebirds defence off-guard as they left three Rugby players unmarked at the back-post and despite Jason Taylor standing on the ball initially, it ended up at the feet of Delroy Gordon who made no mistake from six yards with a finish into the roof of the net.

Rugby’s resolute defending limited the home side to long range efforts and set pieces in their desperate attempts to get an equaliser and only a fantastic save from Afandiyev and a vital block from Tullin twice denied Gilroy.

Rugby Lineup:

	Farhad Afandiyev
	Ross Harris
	Chris Tullin
	Delroy Gordon Scored 1
	Craig Herbert (c) Booked
	Danny Hall  Scored 1
	Matthew Gearing
	Willis Francis Booked
	Jason Taylor Scored 1
	DAVID STONE Star Man
	Aaron Stringfellow Booked

Used Substitutes

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