MISSED CHANCES & POOR DEFENDING COSTS RUGBY

Scott Musgrove was Valley's best performer on the day but Rugby were undone during an eight minute period during the first half

Valley were sunk by two first half goals from BGB Premier top scorer Sean Canham at Butlin Road against high-flying TeamBath.

A mix-up between debutant goalkeeper Joel Skeldon (on loan from Walsall) and centre back Delroy Gordon gifted Canham his first goal after a tight opening 20 minutes.

Canham added his second just eight minutes later when he acrobatically looped the ball over Skeldon after a couple of poor attempted clearances by the Rugby defence.

Rugby should have led before TeamBath opened the scoring when goalkeeper Darren Chitty misjudged a Scott Musgrove centre but David Stone curled the ball wide of the empty net from the edge of the area.

TeamBath looked comfortable in the second half but Rugby manager Rod Brown will have been pulling his hair out after a series of missed opportunities.

Gordon headed over when unmarked from a corner and Musgrove vollied over from a similar situation, while Dave Pearson had an airshot after he had stole a march on the Bath defence.

Substitute David Kolodynski pulled the ball back for Pearson after some good play but the in-form striker got the ball stuck between his feet.

Pearson did get an effort on target and his header forced an excellent save from Chitty after David Staff's cross.

In the dying minutes, Rugby looked as if they had scored a consolation but substitute Akin Aladetoun blasted an effort just wide from eight yards.

Valley Lineup: Skeldon 5, Stringfellow 7, Morley 6, Herbert 5, Gordon 5, Scott 6, Evans 6 (Kolodynski 7), MUSGROVE 7*, Pearson 6, Stone 6 (Aladetoun 6), Staff 6.
Subs Not Used: Edge, Francis.
Bookings: None.
Sent Off: None.

Report by RTFC Online.