CRUEL
LATE BLOW SENDS VALLEY OUT
Photo:
Martin Pulley |
 |
 |
The
referee is escorted off the field after
making the controversial defining decision
to award Bishop's Stortford a 92nd minute
penalty while Valley's players look
on |
|
10-man
Rugby Town's FA Cup adventure was cruelly ended
at Blue Square South side Bishop's Stortford by
a controversially-awarded 92nd minute penalty.
Defender
Steve Purton was sent off for a second bookable
offence shortly after Bishop's had taken the lead
on the hour mark and it seemed that it was all
over but a spirted Valley fought back only to
be denied in the final minute of the game.
Rugby
held their own during the first half although
two lapses in concentration allowed Stortford
to hit the woodwork twice from good opportunties
while David Kolodynski volleyed an effort just
wide at the other end.
Bishop's
opened the scoring when a looped ball into the
six yard box was not dealt with by the Valley
defence and Danny Harris was
on hand to scramble home from close range at the
second attempt.
After
Purton's dismissal, Rugby appeared to rally and
they got a deserved equaliser when Matt Gearing's
inch-perfect cross was met by the head of the
on-rushing Neil King to send
the travelling vocal Valley conginent ecstatic.
King
then rattled the crossbar with a fantastic 25-yarder
while at the other end Stortford wasted a great
opportunity firing over the stand with a free
shot at goal.
However,
the drama came late into injury time when the
referee adjudged defender Delroy Gordon to handle
the ball much to the horror of Valley's players
and Wixon kept his nerve to net
despite the efforts of Dave Clarke.
Valley
Line-up: Clarke, Gordon, Purton, King,
Commander, Herbert, Gearing (Jones), Musgrove,
Kolodynski, Goodall (Evans), Williams (Taylor).
Subs not used: Ryan, Curtis.
Booked: Purton. Sent
off: Purton.
Bishop's
Stortford Line-up: Eyre, Jones, Koko,
Mason, King, Champion, Okojie (Howell), Edwards,
Essandoh, Harris, Dean (Wixon). Subs not
used: Hasler, Hopkins, Chick, Hyem, Jermy.
Report
by RTFC Online. |
