| Stamford
1-1 Rugby Town |
| BGB
Premier Division |
Tuesday,
5th September 2006
Attendance
| 269
|
Entertainment |
|
Billy
Jeffrey's first return to the club he managed
for the six seasons prior to joining Rugby saw
his young side earn a point from a close encounter,
and unlucky not gain all three, as they put in
another strong performance on Tuesday evening.
Town
had taken the lead with a first goal of the season
from skipper Craig Herbert, but let it slip early
in the second half and were then unable to regain
the advantage, despite creating a string a good
opportunities late-on in the game.
Another
unchanged Valley line-up also saw a return to
the New Flame Stadium for Delroy Gordon, and Rugby
started the game well and looked in control for
large periods of the first half.
Whilst
their approach play was impressive, it was often
the final ball which let Rugby down, though an
overhead kick from Matt Gearing hurried Stamford
keeper Ian Pledger after good work down the right
between Jason Taylor and Aaron Stringfellow.
At
the other end, Chris Tullin's goal-line clearance
represented the Daniels' best effort on goal,
with Farhad Afandiyev comfortably dealing with
the rest of Stamford's attacking endeavours.
With
the Stamford defence looking vulnerable from high
balls into the box, Rugby looked their most threatening
from set-plays, and Gordon nearly took advantage
of this on 37 minutes when his header went just
wide.
On
the stroke of half-time, it was no surprise that
Rugby's opener came from a similar move, with
Craig Herbert's
downward header at the far post giving Pledger
no chance after a corner from Danny Hall.
Stamford
started the second period brightly, and brought
the game level again on 58 minutes when the experienced
Mark Angel drilled home his low shot from the
edge of the box, after good work down the right
from Robbie Harris.
Rugby
responded well to the disappointment of the equaliser,
and pressed forward in search of a second goal.
David Stone was unlucky to see his curling shot
touched over by Pledger, and with Gearing looking
increasingly lively on the right-wing, a number
of dangerous crosses caused problems for the Stamford
defence.
Whilst
Afandiyev did pull off a fine save from Angel
on 76 minutes, the home side were mainly reliant
on catching Rugby on the break, and with the Town
defence once more looking solid, it was the visitors
that looked most likely to steal the points.
The
two best opportunities to do so both fell to Taylor
late-on in the game, when he twice found himself
with just the goalkeeper to beat from close range.
However his first effort was blocked, after an
incisive cross from Gearing, and minutes later
he put his second golden opportunity over the
bar, and in doing so, his side had to settle for
a draw.
Report
by Jon Venner.
|
