KOLO COMES CALLING TO EARN VALLEY VALUABLE POINT

Valley picked up a point at play-off possibles Chippenham, and were unlucky not to return with all three after a much improved performance at Hardenhuish Park.

Rugby boss Rod Brown had called on his players to show more desire and passion in the build-up to the game, and his side responded to his plea by fighting their way back from a goal down.

Luke Gullick had given the home team the lead when he headed home a cross to the far post after 18 minutes. Matt McEntegart had earlier seen his goal-bound header blocked on the line by Valley's Stephan Morley, with the hosts looking increasingly threatening from set-plays.

Rugby more than held their own in the first half though, with their best chance falling to David Kolodynski after Richard Scott had picked him out with a long searching ball in behind the Bluebirds' defence. Unfortunately the young striker scuffed his left foot effort straight at the goalkeeper.

Richard Anstiss pulled off two exceptional saves in the opening period - first denying Dave Pratt and then somehow keeping out a deflection from his own skipper Craig Herbert. At the other end, only the width of the post prevented Rugby going into the break on level terms, when Scott's free-kick on 43 minutes struck the woodwork.

Valley looked by far the better side in the second half, but had to wait until two minutes from time to claim the equaliser they clearly deserved. Kolodynski made up for his first half miss when he finished from close range after a well-worked move which included Scott and substitute Dave Pearson.

Earlier Chippenham keeper Chris Snoddy nearly made a hash of Delroy Gordon's header, but with Kolodynski in close attendance then recovered to tip the ball over the crossbar. On 85 minutes he also just managed to get to Kolodynski's strike across the box ahead of Pearson.

Rugby had a great chance to steal the game in stoppage time, when David Stone's quick break up the pitch was halted illegally by Gullick, just as he was about the lay the ball onto Kolodynski – who was free in the middle.

Valley Line-up: Anstiss 7, Stringfellow 6, Scott 8, Herbert 7, Gordon 7, Morley 6, BREWARD 8*, Staff 6 (Pearson 7), Kolodynski 7, Stone 8, King 6.
Subs not used: Edge, Francis, Fitzharris
Booked: Breward, Scott.
Sent Off: None

Report by Jon Venner.