VALLEY LACK RHYTHM IN DRAW WITH BASEMENT CHESHUNT

From left: Delroy Gordon and Brad Harris celebrate David Stone's opening goal but Valley did not hold onto their lead for long

Rugby Town struggled to a 1-1 draw at home to bottom club Cheshunt in tricky conditions at Butlin Road.

The pitch was slippery with the ball skidding off the turf and Rugby were without captain Craig Herbert due to a hamstring injury.

Rugby took the lead early on when Stephan Morley's low driven free-kick deflected into the path of Brad Harris whose prodded effort was saved before David Stone tapped in his 10th goal of the season.

Cheshunt were soon level when three minutes later, Harris was was involved at the other end as the referee decided that the young defender's challenge was clumsy enough to award a penalty. Darrell Cox tucked the ball home despite November Man of the Month Martyn Margarson's best efforts.

After that flurry of early action, the rest of the game was dour by comparison and neither side managed to test the goalkeeper.

Scott Musgrove thought he given his side the lead when he latched onto Delroy Gordon's long ball but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Cheshunt were just about the better side in the second half but only tested Margarson once, a smart save off the line from close range.

Rugby did apply some pressure towards the end, a game that could have gone either way, and the best chance came in the dying seconds when David Staff's cross from the left found its way through to the hard-working Mark Edge, but he skewed the vollied effort harmlessly wide.

Full report to follow.

Valley Lineup: Margarson 6, Stringfellow 7, Morley 6, Harris 6, Gordon 7, Breward 5, Musgrove 6 (Bolt 6), EDGE 7*, Aladetoun 5 (Pearson 6), Stone 6, Staff 6.
Subs Not Used: .
Bookings: Staff.
Sent Off: None.

Report by RTFC Online.