Tuesday 5th December 2006

Attendance | 196

The blustery weather conditions rendered football at a premium. Despite dominating possession in the second half, Valley lacked a cutting edge and were unable to salvage anything from the game and as a result drop back down the place in the table that they had gained from Saturday's draw against Maidenhead.

Billy Jeffrey named an unchanged line-up for the game, with Matt Gearing only just passing a late fitness test to take his place in the side.

Neither side posed a significant goal threat in the opening exchanges. Rugby were limited to long range efforts and dead ball plays - with Danny Hall sending one free-kick agonisingly wide and seeing another comfortably gathered by debutant keeper James Dormond. Chris Tullin's 20 yard drive was also deflected over by Dormond for a corner.

For the home side, Lewis's goal represented their first real effort on target, when he finished off Steve Hillman's long throw and Alex Cowley's flick-on from just a couple of yards out on 36 minutes.

The goal sparked some life into Halesowen, and a minute later they were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when Lewis fell to the ground after a clumsy challenge on him by Ross Harris.

Sean Dowdall's long range strike was only just over the bar, and the Valley's best chance of the half saw Dormond make a good save from David Stone's curling shot with the outside of the foot after strike partner Jason Taylor had nodded on a long ball into the box.

Despite playing against the strong wind in the second half, Rugby had the majority of the play, but once more their goalscoring efforts tended to be limited to set pieces.

Dormond only just managed to cling onto another Hall free-kick from the edge of the area, and shortly after was also in the right place to save a low shot from Gearing.

At the other end, Lewis's cross zipped across the Rugby box, but Craig Herbert was on-hand to clear the ball for a corner, and a 20 yard drive from Alex Crowley was gathered by Farhad Afandiyev.

The closing minutes of the game saw the Yeltz retreat, and defiant defending was the order of the night. Taylor glanced a header wide on 78 minutes from a Hall corner, and three minutes later yet another Hall free-kick from 20 yards was this time blocked by the wall.

Five minutes from the whistle, Rugby squandered their best chance of the night, when Gordon prodded the ball wide from just yards out after Tullin's looping free-kick had been flicked on by Taylor.

Rugby Lineup:

	Farhad Afandiyev
	Ross Harris
	Chris Tullin
	Delroy Gordon
	Craig Herbert (c)
	Danny Hall
	Matthew Gearing
	ANDREW RIGBY Star Man
	David Stone
	Aaron Stringfellow

Used Substitutes

	Fabien Smith
	David Kolodynski
	Andy Commander