RESILIENT RUGBY KEEP BATH FROM OVERFLOWING

A plucky Rugby Town side defended resolutely to pick up a hard-fought point against promotion-chasing Team Bath in baking conditions at Twerton Park.

The result means that Valley jump into 6th place, however, Rugby's efforts looked as if they were in vain when Team Bath midfielder Takumi Ake headed into the net in the third minute of injury time, but the 'goal' was ruled out for a push on Matt Gearing.

Rugby manager Billy Jeffrey made no changes as David Staff was still unavailable due to work commitments and Valley started brightly with Tom Breward powerfully heading over the bar from Stephan Morley's early free kick.

The Students have proved to be tricky opponents for Rugby over the last five years and this meeting was no different as Team Bath began to assert themselves.

Valley were lucky to escape when Matt Lock's free kick looked destined to be turned in but no Bath player could apply the finish before Gary Warren headed over from Lock's corner.

Akin Aladetoun and David Stone perhaps should have done better when they caught the hosts on the counter attack before dangerous front man Sean Canham headed over from ten yards from another corner.

Marc Canham's 20-yard curler came agonisingly close to creeping inside Simon Lynn's goal before Rugby countered to have their first effort on target. Willis Francis and Aladetoun combined well in the centre of the park before feeding Gearing, whose strong run and powerful shot was well saved by Darren Chitty.

Team Bath were beginning to press and probe the Town back-line and Marc Canham again came close as he shot over after Craig Herbert's poor clearance while brother Sean called Lynn into action for the first time with a terrific rasping drive which was equalled with an excellent save.

Sean Canham might have done better when he headed straight at Lynn from Lock's diagonal centre before Morley's 25-yard free kick almost deflected beyond Chitty and into the net, but the goalkeeper covered the ground well to make a save.

With a 0-0 platform to build on at half time, Rugby's defending was even more stout in the second half as the visitors restricted Team Bath to only a few scoring opportunities.

Lynn was again on hand to make comfortable saves from Matt Williams and Sean Canham before Rugby's best chance came with ten minutes remaining when the commanding Delroy Gordon met Gearing's in-swinging corner but could only direct his header wide of the goal.

Valley's excellent resistance continued into the final minutes as Aaron Stringfellow and Tom Breward both made tremendous tackles to deny substitute Josh Llewellyn a clear shot at goal before the late scare when Ake found the net for Bath.

But Rugby held firm to record their second clean sheet and first draw of the season.

Valley Lineup: Lynn 7, Stringfellow 7, Morley 7, Herbert 6, GORDON 8*, Breward 7, Gearing 7, Francis 7, Aladetoun 7, Stone 7 (Kolodynski 6), Musgrove 7.
Subs Not Used: Barcherini, Edge, Blake.
Bookings: None.
Sent Off: None.

Report by RTFC Online.