Rugby
Town take a break from BGB Premier
Division this weekend to start their
FA Cup trail at North East Counties
League Premier side Glapwell.
Valley
will make the trip up the M1 for a
first ever game against Glapwell in
good spirits after a 0-0 draw at play-off
chasing Team Bath which saw them edge
up the table into 6th place last Saturday.
Valley
boss Billy Jeffrey praised the form
and efforts of his young side ahead
of the Glapwell game.
He
said: "We have had a tough start
to the season, and played some strong
teams so far.
"Our
work rate has been superb though,
and we have put a nice little run
together now."
He
continued: "It's nice to get
a breather from the league for a couple
of weeks now, and hopefully we can
get a cup run going for the town.
"We
did okay in the competition last season,
but it would be great to go one or
two stages further this time round."
2006-07
saw Valley's best run in the FA Cup
for nine years after they reached
the Third Qualifying Round - only
to go down at home to an experienced
Chelmsford City side.
Despite
being two levels below Town in the
non-league pyramid, this weekend's
opponents Glapwell should provide
a stern test for Rugby. They have
started their season in great form,
with five victories in five games
placing them firmly at the top of
their table, and FA Cup wins against
Dudley and Stone earning them this
fixture against Valley.
Glapwell
manager Les McJannet strengthened
his squad in the summer in an attempt
to breakthrough into the Northern
League structure for the first time
in their history, bringing in a number
of players with experience at a level
higher than their current. Their main
threat would appear to come from Ian
Brown, who has only failed to score
in one of their nine games in all
competitions this season, notching
ten goals in the process.
Billy
is aware that his side should not
take the game lightly. He
said :"They are obviously a good
team at their level, so we will have
to be focused and up for the challenge.
"We
were in a similar situation at the
same stage of the competition last
season when we played Deeping who
were top of the UCL Premier.
"We
came through that game confidently
and successfully, so I will be looking
for the same application this time
round."
David
Staff should be available
for selection again after missing
the Bedford victory and the Team Bath
draw, and Billy does not expect any
fresh injury worries, although defender
Andy Commander has suffered a set-back
in his recovery from a broken hand
and will be out for at least a further
six weeks.
One
other worry for Billy is striker David
Stone who could be unavailable
this weekend, which could remain a
return for Valley youngster David
Kolodynski.
Glapwell
is a village located between Mansfield
and Chesterfield, and the Derbyshire
club play at Hall Corner. There is
a supporters' coach travelling to
the game, and this leaves the clubhouse
at 11.45 am. For further details contact
Tony Mann on 07970 691366.
In
the event of a draw on Saturday at
Glapwell, the game will be replayed
on Tuesday night at Butlin Road (kick
off 7.45 p.m.). The draw for the next
qualifying round of the competition
will be made on Monday afternoon.
Rugby
Town Squad From: Simon Lynn,
Alessandro Barcherini, Aaron Stringfellow,
Brad Harris, Delroy Gordon, Craig
Herbert, Stefan Morley, Ashley Blake,
Stefan McGrath, Mark Edge, David Staff,
Matt Gearing, Willis Francis, Tom
Breward, Scott Musgrove, David Kolodynski,
David Stone, Akin Aladetoun. |
