RUGBY FINISH PRE-SEASON WITH A FLOURISH

Photo: Martin Pulley

New forward Daren Dykes gets stuck in where it hurts during the first half at Butlin Road against a young Walsall XI

Town eased to victory against a young Walsall side in their final game of the warm-up campaign - thanks to a goal in each half from Matt Gearing and Dave Pearson at Butlin Road.

Following on from a disappointing display at Bedworth in the week, it was a much more convincing Valley performance this time round.

After getting down well to smother Harry Harris's effort in the opening minutes, home keeper Andrew Stevens was rarely stretched by the Bescot Academy youngsters thereafter.

Rugby boss Rod Brown opted for a back-four formation for the first time, with Delroy Gordon slotting in on the right hand side, and forming a solid defensive unit alongside Ashley Walker, Craig Herbert and Richard Scott.

After Harris's initial scare, Valley then created a series of chances in the lead-up to Gearing's opener. Daren Dykes went close with a header from Kevin Banner's cross, and Gearing himself saw a his free-kick deflected for a corner.

From the resulting set-piece Dykes again went close with his head, before Town finally made the breakthrough on 26 minutes after Dykes pulled the ball across into Gearing's path - to allow the midfielder to strike his second goal of pre-season.

David Kolodynski should have extended the hosts' half-time advantage, but after delaying his shot to create a better angle - he struck his effort straight at the Walsall keeper instead.

The visitors started the second half a little brighter, and Harris pulled a shot wide and Stevens comfortably catching Will Grigg's low shot shortly after.

Having replaced the injured Mark Edge with Mark Taylor after the interval, Brown then made a further seven substitutions around the hour mark.

Despite this potential disruption to the flow, Town actually appeared to up their game from this point, and chances continued to come their way as a result.

Pearson curled a shot against the base of the post, before then finding the net on 67 minutes after neat build-up play by Avun Jephcott and Ashley Robinson.

Jephcott himself fired one on-target from 30 yards, which was gathered at the second attempt by the visiting goalie, and Pearson also got in behind the opposition back-line on a couple of further occasions late in the game - but was unable to take advantage of the opportunities.

Valley line-up: Stevens - Gordon, Walker (Jephcott 61), Herbert (Ryan 61), Scott (Purton 72) - Kolodynski (Robinson 65), Gearing (Curtis 65), King (Fitzharris 61), Edge (M.Taylor 45), Banner (Melvin 63) - Dykes (Pearson 63). Subs not used: J. Taylor, Martin.

Report by Jon Venner.