LATE SHOW FROM PURITANS DENIES VALLEY

Former Valley player Ben Milner tangles with returning Rugby striker Dave Pearson - a challenge that saw Milner receive a red card

Valley literally threw away the chance of a victory at Butlin Road, conceding two late goals against an in-form Puritans side.

Nicky Gordon's equaliser for the visitors came in the sixth minute of stoppage time, ruining stand-in boss Craig Herbert's 100% record in temporary charge of Town.

Rugby had taken a two goal lead into the interval, thanks to David Stone's eleventh goal of the season on 36 minutes and fortuitous effort from Tom Breward on the stroke of half-time.

Stone had played a clever one-two with strike partner Dave Pearson, before weaving past a couple of Banbury defenders and calmly rolling the ball under goalkeeper Andy Wheeler to open the scoring.

Valley's second came when Aaron Stringfellow's long-range effort struck Breward who was positioned in the middle of the goalmouth, and deflected past the now wrong-footed Wheeler.

Rugby were good value for their half-time advantage, with Steve Evans and Pearson both having other good opportunities to score, and Dean Thomas in the Valley goal rarely troubled.

The visitors started the second period brightly though, and substitute Sammy Ibrahin first shot just wide and then later headed over from close range under pressure from Thomas.

Banbury's Ben Milner was sent off for stamping on David Staff mid-way through the half, and with Pearson's header looping just over the bar and Evans's 25 yarder deflecting narrowly wide, it appeared that Rugby would see the game out comfortably.

However United's 10 men raised their game for its closing portion, and Thomas pulled off a fine one-handed save from Troy Bryan's point blank header, before Stuart Bridges slashed one home to give Banbury a lifeline on 88 minutes.

At the other end, Stone had had a shot headed off the line and David Kolodynski almost made the stretched Banbury defence pay when he chipped over after a quick Valley break.

Gordon's suspiciously offside looking late leveller rounded the game off though, as he poked in Bridges' far post downward header.

Valley Lineup: Thomas 7, Stringfellow 7, Morley 6, Herbert 7, Gordon 7, Breward 7 (Kolodynski 6), Edge 7 (Bolt 6), Evans 7, STONE 8*, Pearson 8, Staff 7.
Subs Not Used: Aladetoun, Harris, Blake.
Bookings: None.
Sent Off: None.

Report by Jon Venner.