TOWN DRAW BANBURY BLANK

Photo: Martin Pulley

David Kolodynski thought he had given Rugby the lead during the first half but his attempted lob bounced over the crossbar

After opening their new BGBLP campaign with two defeats, there was at least some relief for Town supporters when they gained their first point of the season last Saturday.

There was however little else for fans to enjoy from another below-par performance, as Valley once more failed to click as an attacking force.

To be fair, the visitors were little better on the day either – with the game reaching the inevitable stalemate conclusion.

Rugby boss Rod Brown made just one change from the side defeated at home to Halesowen earlier in the week, with skipper Craig Herbert shaking off his back injury to replace Andy Commander in the heart of the defence.

Following the release from the club of Ashley Robinson, there was a first chance on the bench for both Rory Curtis and Avun Jephcott.

The visitors included ex-Town players Aaron Stringfellow, Ben Milner and Tom Breward in their starting line-up, although another - Stephan Morley - was ruled out injured.

Rugby again looked disjointed and created little of note for the once-more lone striker Dolapo Olaoye. They were at their best for a brief ten minute spell at the start of the second half, when they at least emerged with some drive.

In that time, Olaoye had two shots blocked after first Matt Gearing and then David Kolodynski had managed to get in behind the Puritans defence. Kolodynski had his side’s best chance on 57 minutes when he nipped in between United’s Joe Murrell and Tommy Kinch to lob the advancing keeper – only to see the ball bounce agonisingly over the bar.

Neil King also blazed a volley just high of the target in this spell, although Banbury soon rallied and their striker Scott Bridges wasted two great opportunities on the hour mark – dragging his shot wide and then being denied by an excellent sliding tackle from Delroy Gordon.

The first half had been a generally uneventful affair. It was thirty minutes before either side managed a shot on target, and then ex-Valley full-back Aaron Stringfellow’s effort from the edge of the box more resembled a strongly struck back-pass than any kind of threat to the goal.

United’s Nicky Gordon was proving to be a handful at times though, and Craig Herbert was lucky to escape punishment when he appeared to drag him back, after the striker looked like he had broken free down the middle.

Gordon got in behind the defence again later in the half, but this time his namesake Delroy was back quickly to hurry him with his shot.

Too many times in the first half, Rugby punted the ball forward in a hopeful manner, rather than with any real purpose, and creative play from the midfield was rare.

After the mini-flurry at the start of the second half, goalmouth incident was once more at a premium for its remainder. Valley’s two best chances of snatching a much-needed victory both fell late-on to centre-half Ashley Walker.

His header from Kevin Banner’s corner just failed to make it through a crowded box, and then he warmed the hands of Murrell with a stinging driven effort on 87 minutes, which the young keeper did well to keep out.

Valley Line-up: Stevens, Gordon, Scott, Herbert, Walker, Edge (Jephcott), Kolodynski, King, Olaoye (Pearson), Gearing, Banner. Subs not used: Curtis, Ryan, Martin. Booked: None. Sent off: None.

Banbury Line-up: Murrell, Stringfellow (Peppiatt), Kinch, Essex, Milner, Pearman, Travers, Breward, Gordon, Scott Bridges (Bryan), Stanbridge (Stuart Bridges). Subs not used: Drummond, Howkins.

Report by Jon Venner.