Saturday 7th April 2007

Attendance | 373

	David Staff put in an impressive performance but Rugby couldn't recover from a two-goal deficit

Rugby's defensive frailties came to the fore again, when they were edged out by the odd goal in five at Meadow Park on Saturday.

Alex Sykes's far post header after just thirty seconds of play had set the tone for the day, leaving the Valley - not the for the first time this season - chasing a game virtually from the off. Matters deteriorated further twenty minutes later when Town's Tom Breward appeared to get the last touch to Sykes's ball into the box under pressure from Tiger's striker Jimmy Cox.

In between the two goals, Valley's David Staff was at the heart of most of his side's attacking play, with the best chance falling to Aaron Stringfellow on 19 minutes, when he shot straight at Gloucester keeper Ray Johnston from 12 yards. Parys Okai had earlier sent his rasping drive just over the angle of the goal.

Staff almost opened his goalscoring account for his new club with a fantastic effort from 25 yards, before Willis Francis reduced the arrears just past the half hour mark, when he slotted home his second goal of the season after Jason Taylor and Okai had combined well. Okai's low drive and rising free-kick offered more hope to the visiting supporters in the lead-up to half-time.

The home side had their best spell of the game in the early part of the second half, exerting consistent pressure on the Rugby back-line, with Farhad Afandiyev called into service on a number of occasions to deal with a series of dangerous crosses into the penalty area.

The inevitable goal though came in the 65th minute after City substitute Tom Webb had dispossessed Okai in a central position. Webb's subsequent low effort was spilled by Afandiyev, and Matt Shaxton was on-hand to pick up the pieces and scramble the ball over the line from close range.

Jason Taylor struck a post with a well-executed curling shot, before grabbing Town's second - and his 23rd of the season - with another rebounded effort after David Stone's strike across goal had been saved by Johnston.

The Valley's best chance of salvaging a point from the game came on 82 minutes, when both Matt Gearing and Taylor saw their shots blocked by defenders in quick succession, before Staff curled the loose ball over the bar.

Rugby Lineup:

	Farhad Afandiyev
	Aaron Stringfellow
	Andy Commander Booked
	Delroy Gordon
	Craig Herbert (c)
	Tom Breward
	Parys Okai
	Willis Francis Scored 1
	Jason Taylor Scored 1
	David Stone
	DAVID STAFF Star Man

Used Substitutes

	Chris Tullin
	Matthew Gearing