VALLEY HOLD OUT FOR FIRST AWAY WIN

Valley picked up a welcome second victory of the season at Forest Green's New Lawn Stadium on Saturday, but ultimately made hard work of it after having controlled affairs for the first seventy five minutes of the game.

They raced into a three goal advantage thanks to an own goal and strikes from midfielders David Staff and Scott Musgrove, and despite throwing the home side a lifeline on 56 minutes when Alex Sykes scored for Gloucester, Town still continued to look comfortable and assured.

Another City goal against the run of play with thirteen minutes of normal time remaining however set up a tense finale, and the Tigers suddenly found their teeth for the remainder of the match - with Rugby grateful for a couple of particularly impressive saves from Simon Lynn and a goal-line clearance from Aaron Stringfellow in ensuring a maximum return was obtained.

Valley's opener came on 20 minutes when City defender Marc Richards headed an up-the-field punt from Lynn past his own keeper as he furiously back-tracked trying to deal with the long clearance from the keeper.

Staff increased the margin when he volleyed the ball home off the crossbar after Musgrove had picked him out with an accurate cross from the left.

Other chances had come Valley's way in that first period, with Stefan Morley sending his effort from distance wide of the post, and David Stone chesting down a glorious crossfield pass from Tom Breward before seeing his next touch just let him down.

Breward and his central midfield partner Willis Francis had imposed themselves on the game to good effect in the first half, and Rugby emerged for the second in even more confident mood.

They grabbed an inevitable third goal when Musgrove chipped in from more than thirty yards after City keeper Kevin Sawyer had sliced his clearance into the young midfielder's path.

Despite Sykes's long range goal shortly after which Lynn could only deflect into the net, Town continued to impress and penetrate - with Aladetoun squandering their best chance when he poked the ball wide of the goal from close range after a fantastic through ball from the constantly influential Staff.

However Scott Griffin was quick to pounce on a slip from Craig Herbert on 77 minutes, before drilling his shot home off the inside of the post to set up a nervy ending for the travelling Valley supporters.

Fortunately Lynn produced an excellent stop from Griffin's diving header at the death, having previously also tipped another City effort just over the bar to help his club record only a second win in ten visits to Gloucester.

Valley Lineup: Lynn 7, Stringfellow 8, Morley 6 (Edge 6), Herbert 6, Gordon 7, Breward 8, Musgrove 7, FRANCIS 8*, Aladetoun 6, Stone 6 (Kolodynski 6), Staff 8.
Subs not used: Matt Gearing, Brad Harris
Booked: Mark Edge

Gloucester Lineup: Sawyer, Allard (Reid), Welsh, Mustoe, Richards, Thompson, Wilkinson (Ellis 75), Webb, Griffin, Whittington (Price 45), Sykes.
Subs not used: Harris, Taylor

Report by Jon Venner.