10-MAN RUGBY LOSE THE BATTLE BUT WIN THE WAR!

Photo: Martin Pulley

Captain Delroy Gordon moves up front late on in a desperate attempt to get something from the game but Valley were saved anyway.

Despite losing to Bashley, a 10-man Rugby Town were assured of BGB Premier Division football next season thanks to results elsewhere.

Rugby went into the game knowing a draw would guarantee safety but Scott Musgrove's 40th minute dismissal did little to help matters with Valley already a goal down.

Bashley added another before the break with the substantial advantage of the strong wind up their backs before Valley grabbed an equaliser just before half time.

The ten men dominated proceedings in the second half but could not find the goal that their efforts perhaps warranted before Bashley netted a late third on the break.

Tony Dobson made no changes to the side that lost at Swindon Supermarine in the week although Daren Dykes and Marcel Simpson both returned to the bench.

The home side, with the aid of the wind, dominated the opening exchanges forcing several corners and dangerously-positioned throw-ins with Musgrove and Liam Nicell clearing two efforts off the line in the first five minutes.

Bashley hit the post and could have scored again after another goal-mouth scramble as Rugby struggled to get out of their own half against the wind.

Valley did, however, carve out an excellent chance when David Kolodynski did extremely well to nod the ball down for strike partner Jason Turner whose low shot was well saved by David Elm in the Bashley goal.

Moments later, Bashley had a golden opportunity to take the lead as Ryan Moss was tripped by Musgrove in the area and the referee pointed to the spot.

Andrew Stevens got down brilliantly to his left to make the save from the spot - his first penalty save of the season.

The home side did get their deserved opening goal when another corner was not dealt with by the Rugby defence and Parnell scrambled the ball home from an improbable position at the far post.

Bash continued to pressurise the visitors from set pieces with Rugby keen to get into the break without conceding again.

However, a display of impetulance from Musgrove, kicking the ball away after the referee had awarded a free-kick for Steve Purton's foul earnt the midfielder a needless second yellow card leaving his team-mates to balttle on with just 10 men.

Things went from bad to worse as Ferrett curled the resulting free kick superbly into the top corner from 25 yards to put Bashley two ahead.

After a slight re-shuffle, Rugby got themselves back into the game on the stroke of half time.

David Staff's persistent run down the left was rewarded when his intended cross for the awaiting Kolodynski instead deflected kindly over the goalkeeper and into the net.

Dobson replaced Turner and Purton with Matt Gearing and Neil Melvin in an attempt to turn around the fortunes of his side.

Rugby immediately found their stride in the second half and on-lookers would be hard pushed to decide which side was playing with ten during the second period.

Valley applied the pressure much as Bashley did in the first half and had some good chances to get an equaliser.

The best chance fell to Kolodynski when he linked up with the impressive Staff in midfield before running through on goal, but under the pressure of several defenders, the striker's shot was well saved by Elm.

Staff then forced Elm into a good save from his 25-yard free kick whiel Delroy Gordon came close with a strong header after Nicell's cross.

Bashley were still a threat on the break and had chances to kill the game off with Moss being guilty of missing a golden opportuntity when he contrived to miss the target from three yards out when the ball from his team-mate appeared to be going into the net anyway.

Nicell forced Elm into an excellent save down to his right with an angled left-footed drive before Gordon headed wide from Melvin's late centre before Bashley got a chance on the break and this time took it.

A long ball caught out the Valley defence who were committed forward and Richard Gillespie ran onto the ball to lob the ball over Stevens and into the net despite Craig Herbert's best efforts to prevent the ball going over the line.

By the final whistle, the large travelling contingent from Rugby were happy enough after learning about Corby's 5-0 victory over Banbury securing safety for Valley.

Valley Line-up: Stevens; Nicell, Morley, Herbert, Gordon; Staff, Purton (Melvin), Musgrove, King; Kolodynsk (Pearson), Turner (Gearing). Subs not used: Dykes, Simpson. Booked: Musgrove, Kolodynski, Turner. Sent off: Musgrove.

Bashley Line-up: TBC. Subs not used: TBC.

Report by RTFC Online.