Saturday 14th April 2007

Attendance | 204

	Goalkeeper Faz Afandiyev makes a stunning save just before half time but could only watch as Hemel scored four

An understrength Rugby were made to pay for a lack of height in the box last Saturday, going down to their third defeat of the season to Hemel at Vauxhall Road.

With central defenders Craig Herbert and Delroy Gordon still unfit, they were joined on the sidelines by injured striker Jason Taylor and the suspended Willis Francis. Manager Billy Jeffrey's pre-match preparations were also hampered by the breakdown of the team coach on the motorway on the way to the game.

Despite this turmoil, Valley started the delayed game in good form, but then gave the home side the initiative by conceding the first goal in the 13th minute when Paul Edgeworth rose unmarked at the far post to head home Chris Herron's free-kick.

Edgeworth could easily have added to his goal on three further occasions in the remainder of the half - which his side dominated. He twice headed wide and saw a shot fly off-target, whilst Anthony Thomas was also unable to capitalise on a good chance after Andy Commander had mis-directed his clearing header.

For Rugby, David Kolodynski and Commander had half-chances, and David Stone's 44th minute strike from the edge of the area was always rising too high to trouble Hemel keeper Steve Smith.

Smith's opposite number Farhad Afandiyev then pulled off the save of the match on the stroke of half-time when he flung himself across his goal to deny Gary Sippetts header from Edgeworth's centre.

Edgeworth scored a near identical second goal for the home side on 52 minutes, when he again had too much time and space at the back post from Herron's deep free-kick, before applying a clinical header past Afandiyev.

This goal saw Rugby launch their best spell of the match, with Stone minutes later sending another long range effort over the bar.

Parys Okai then released Stone down the middle, a run which was illegally stopped by a Hemel defender on the very edge of the box. The referee duly awarded Rugby a free-kick, but despite appearing to be the last man, the guilty defender escaped with just a yellow card.

Parys Okai exacted some revenge for the offence though, by curling his free-kick past Smith and into the net.

Another Okai shot on 70 minutes was well smothered by Smith, and substitute Akin Aladetoun - who had provided the Town attack with increased spark when introduced shortly after half-time - then did well down the left hand side, finding Stone in the area, but the striker's shot was weak and was easily saved.

Aladetoun had a good opportunity himself shortly after, but failed to make good enough contact to Okai's chipped free-kick.

Nathan Bowden-Haase struck a cruel blow for Hemel on 78 minutes, again taking advantage of poor marking at the back post - heading home another set-piece, this time delivered by Fabio Valentini.

Rugby were almost immediately back in the game though reducing the arrears to 3-2 when Parys Okai added his second, stroking in a penalty after Bowden-Haase had handled David Staff's cross in the box.

Five minutes later, Tom Breward had his team's best chance of drawing level when he side footed Staff's deep corner just over the bar, and in the final minute of normal time, with Rugby pushing forward in search of an equaliser, Hemel were quick to counter from Afandiyev's long kick and Sippetts provided a neat finish - chipping home from 18 yards.

There was still time for Stone to have another shot at goal after Breward's through ball had seen him gain a yard on the Hemel back-line, but Smith was equal to his effort and Hemel's chances of a play-off spot were boosted by this second successive four goal victory over Valley.

Report by Jon Venner.

Rugby Lineup:

	Farhad Afandiyev
	Ross Harris
	Andy Commander
	Parys Okai Scored 2
	Chris Tullin
	TOM BREWARD Star Man
	Matthew Gearing
	Aaron Stringfellow
	David Stone
	David Kolodynski
	David Staff

Used Substitutes

	Akinwale Aladetoun Booked
	Delroy Gordon