Saturday 7th October 2006

Attendance | 434

Valley manager Billy Jeffrey had to make one forced change with Tom Breward replacing the suspended Willis Francis in the centre of midfield.

Rugby did not start quite as well as in the last two matches but after 20 minutes they began to string some decent football together and the first chance came as Matt Gearing weaved himself a chance on the edge of the box before shooting straight at the goalkeeper.

A flowing move that started in their own penalty area from Rugby followed with Chris Tullin exchanging with Gearing and Taylor, who laid a superb pass through for Tullin but the left back's efforts were in vain as his 18 yard shot was always rising.

Danny Hall then forced a decent save out of the home debutant goalkeeper Clapham with a curling 20-yard free-kick while Aaron Stringfellow came closest with a 20 yard left-foot strike that whistled past the post.

Tiverton were by no means passengers and played some good build up play, however, often the final cross or shot was lacking and Farhad Afandiyev, the Rugby goalkeeper, was not troubled.

The closest the home side came to a goal was an audacious 35-yard half volley by experienced forward Steve Flack which, although it dipped quickly, never looked like going into the net.

Delroy Gordon missed a crucial chance to give Rugby the lead after Craig Herbert had nodded back Danny Hall's deep corner, but young defender Gordon somehow conspired to miss from inside the six yard box.

But Rugby did take the lead on the stroke of half time when Hall's pass through to Matt Gearing caused all sorts of problems for the Tivvy defence leaving the quick-footed midfielder to feign onto his left foot before tucking the ball away to give Valley a half time lead.

The second half was tighter and little goalmouth action arose until the hour mark when James Mudge's deep cross was missed by Flack and was then controversially adjudged to have been fouled by Chris Tullin after a long delay and McConnell slid the penalty home with ease.

The goal gave Tivvy a boost along with the home support and they looked a little more dangerous.

However, it was Rugby who continued to have the better of the chances. A Gearing corner was met by the head of Herbert, but he could only direct his effort over the bar from eight yards while Gordon reacted quickly when the Tiverton goalkeeper dropped a corner but he could not keep his effort down.

A neat move on the right saw Stringfellow lay the ball back for Ross Harris, whose inviting cross was met by the head of Jason Taylor, but Clapham made a smart save low down to his left to deny the tall, in-form striker.

Mudge was looking dangerous from left for the home side, and he produced the first save of the day from Afandiyev with a curling effort from the edge of the area.

Tivvy could have snatched the game as the end neared as the ball bobbled around the Rugby area but the final shot found it's way into the arms of Afandiyev.

Valley manager Jeffrey was incensed when an unusally quiet David Stone had finally got the better of his man in the area before being brought down in the area for what looked a certain penalty, only for the referee to wave away the appeals.

The best chance was still to come as superb interplay between Gearing & Taylor ended in the later having a free run on goal but despite beating the goalkeeper with a chipped effort, the shot didn't have enough pace to evade the defender Booth, who only just did enough to deflect the ball away for a corner.

With the last kick of the game Tiverton looked like they had won the game as Booth's deep cross found an unmarked Chris Bale, but he missed the target with his header.

Rugby Lineup:

	Farhad Afandiyev
	Ross Harris
	Chris Tullin Booked
	Delroy Gordon
	Craig Herbert (c)
	Danny Hall
	MATTHEW GEARING Star Man Scored 1
	Tom Breward
	Jason Taylor Booked
	David Stone
	Aaron Stringfellow

Used Substitutes

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