HEMEL SMASH AND GRAB PUTS VALLEY IN DEEP TROUBLE

Striker David Stone put Valley ahead with his 13th goal of the season but Hemel fought back to clinch the points at a very blustery Butlin Road

Rugby Town slipped to a fifth consecutive league defeat at Butlin Road as Hemel Hempstead stole all three points to make things even trickier in Valley's bid to stay in the BGB Premier Division.

Despite Hemel's seventh place positioning in the table, just outside the playoffs, onlookers could be mistaken for thinking it was Rugby who were the side in the top half of the table as Valley dictated proceedings, particularly during the first half.

Conditions at Butlin Road were particularly windy and it was the home side who took advantage of this in the opening exchanges.

Richard Scott saw his direct effort on goal from a free kick sail wide in the first minute while David Stone curled an effort into goalkeeper Ian Brown's hands from inside the area.

Rugby were then in front on ten minutes when Delroy Gordon nodded down David Staff's corner and David Stone was on hand to turn the ball home from close range for his thirteenth goal of the season and one of the easiest.

Valley continued to make the early running as Staff had two chances inside five minutes - firstly driving low effort straight at Brown from the edge of the area and then capitalising on Stephan Morley's good play down the left before curling an effort agonisingly wide from eighteen yards.

Halfway through the first half Rugby felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Hemel defender Nathan Bowden-Haase clumsily bundled Stone over from behind but play continued and a chance fell to David Kolodynski who saw a header tipped over by Brown after Staff's centre.

Hemel struggled to mount any serious threat as Rugby looked dangerous on the counter-attack with Kolodynski blazing over on the angle after Stone;s crossfield ball.

However, the visitors found themselves level with their first effort on goal. Morley gave away a needless freekick on the edge of the area and Chris Dillon flicked Mark Coulson's wind-assisted cross into the net.

The home side did not seem to be deterred by the equaliser with Stone and Morley forcing smart saves from Hemel's Brown.

It wasn't until after the break that Rugby created their best chance of the game. Neil King nutmegged his marker on the left hand side of the area and cut the ball for Aaron Stringfellow but the defender's goalbound effort from twelve yards was superbly blocked by Brown.

Out of nowhere Hemel were ahead. Hemel striker Ian Cooper's goal would have been fit for the Premier League as he magnificently spun past Scott and drilled a effort into Richard Anstiss' net from an improbable angle. That goal appeared to kill Rugby's channel and they struggled to create as they had done before the second Hemel goal.

Tom Breward and Gordon came close with glancing headers from Morley crosses while substitute Kieran Fitzharris tested Brown from 25 yards after an excellent surging run.

Rugby could not find the elusive finishing touch on the day and Hemel almost added to Valley's misery but Anstiss was sharp enough to keep out substitute's Harry Hunt's diving header.

Valley Lineup: Anstiss 6, Stringfellow 5 (Edge 6), Scott 6, Herbert 6, Gordon 6, Morley 6, Breward 7, King 6, Kolodynski 6 (Pearson 6), STONE 7*, Staff 7 (Fitzharris 6).
Subs Not Used: None.
Bookings: None.
Sent Off: None.

Report by RTFC Online.