VALLEY
THROW AWAY PENNYDARREN PARK LEAD AGAIN
For
a third successive season, Rugby Town surrendered
a first half lead at Pennydarren Park against
Merthyr Tydfil to lose 2-1.
Goals
from substitute Darren Griffiths and his namesake
Marcus on 52 and 72 minutes respectively ruined
an encouraging first half performance from Valley,
which had seen Akin Aladetoun give them a deserved
lead.
Aladetoun
had given his side the lead six minutes before
the break, when he headed Dave Pearson's cross
beyond goalkeeper Ashley Morris.
The
Coventry University student had earlier fluffed
a golden chance when he failed to make contact
with Delroy Gordon's downward header from a David
Staff cross on 28 minutes, and Staff himself was
also guilty of squandering a good first-half opportunity
when his shot was well-saved by Morris - with
Pearson again the provider from a wide position.
Valley
boss Billy Jeffrey was down to the bare bones
for the game after the late withdrawal through
sickness of regular midfield duo Tom Breward and
Stephan Morley, following on from the loss earlier
in the week of Martyn Margarson after his club
Rushden & Diamonds recalled the in-form young
keeper.
Ex-Quorn
and Stapenhill stopper Craig Jones was drafted
in at short notice, and he smothered an effort
from the eventual match winner Griffiths to ensure
the visitors were in front at the interval.
Aladetoun
should have extended that advantage on 52 minutes,
but instead he blazed over from 12 yards after
good build-up play between David Stone and Pearson.
The
miss was probably the turning point of the game,
and Merthyr scored in the very next minute when
Jones failed to claim the ball in a goalmouth
scramble after a threatening long-throw from Andrew
Thomas, and Darren Griffiths poked the loose ball
home.
Staff's
low shot from the edge of the area on 71 minutes
was parried away by Tydfil keeper, before Marcus
Griffiths settled the game with his powerful header
from Stevie Williams's right-wing cross.
Valley Line-up: Jones 6, Stringfellow
6, Harris 6, Bolt 6, Gordon 6, Musgrove 7, Edge
6, PEARSON 7*,
Aladetoun 6 (Kolodynski 6), Stone 6, Staff 7.
Subs not used: Evans, Castleton,
Booked: None.
Sent Off: None
Report
by Jon Venner. |
