CANARIES COME OUT ON TOP IN DOUR CONTEST

Valley's January Player of the Month Dave Pearson is thwarted during a first half attack as Hitchin hold firm throughout the ninety minutes.

Rugby Town slipped to defeat as Hitchin Town claimed a crucial win in the fight to survive in the BGB Premier Division.

Two second half goals killed off Valley's challenge and allowed Hitchin to climb closer to safety and drag Rugby towards it.

The whole game was a dour affair and the first half was characteristic of this with both sides failing to piece together many phases of play.

Rugby had three key chances in the first half with goalkeeper Ricky Perks making a good save from close range from David Stone's early effort while Stone also headed just wide after one of the few good moves of the game.

Debutant Neil King also hit a sweetly struck volley straight at Perks from eighteen yards.

Rugby started the second half reasonably well, but it was Hitchin who took the lead out of nowhere. A long diagonal ball caught out the Rugby backline following a Valley corner and the ball was squared for Marlon Campbell to tap home from close range.

The visitors missed a key chance to extend their lead as the Canaries centre back fired over despite being completely free at the far post following a corner.

However, Hitchin doubled their lead to secure their first ever win at Butlin Road when Mark Duckett controlled a long clearance before unleashing a half volley into the corner of the net from 30 yards.

Hitchin stopper Perks made two excellent saves to deny substitute David Kolodynski and Dave Pearson late on but Rugby did not extert any period of pressure.

Valley Lineup: Anstiss 5, Stringfellow 5 (Kolodynski 6), Evans 6, Herbert 6, Gordon 6, KING 6*, Scott 5 (Edge 6), Musgrove 5, Pearson 5, Stone 6, Staff 5.
Subs Not Used: Francis.
Bookings: None.
Sent Off: None.

Report by RTFC Online.