VALLEY'S CLIMB CONTINUES

Photo: Martin Pulley

Early goals from striker partnership David Kolodynski (left) and David Stone (right) put Rugby in command against Bedford at Butlin Road.

Rugby Town's ascent up the BGB Premier continued at Butlin Road with a fantastic festive 3-0 win over Bedford Town.

The win made it five unbeaten for Valley, represented a fifth consecutive win on the fixture nearest Christmas and also included another two goals for the profilic David Kolodynski.

The game could not have begun any better for Rugby as they flew into a two goal lead inside the first eight minutes against Eagles.

Firstly, striker David Stone leapt like a salmon to powerfully head home Steve Purton's inch-perfect flagkick at the near post to record his first goal for two months.

Valley soon doubled their advantage when Purton intercepted Tony Battersby's loose crossfield pass to play through Kolodynski. The 19-year-old saw his initial shot saved but a combination of deflections and luck saw the ball roll towards the goal-line for Kolodynski to tap home into an empty net from close range.

The home side rode their luck for a brief period in the first half as Bedford rallied to get back into the game - striking the woodwork twice in quick succession.

Valley themselves struck the post with a Stephan Morley free kick while Kolodynski could have added to his tally but firstly poked wide from eight yards and then saw a rasping volley excellently tipped over by the visiting goalkeeper.

After the break, Bedford were again unlucky not to register a goal when the ball rebounded off the post and then Liam Nicell blocked a certain goal from the ricochet.

However, it was Rugby that effectively sealed the points as Tom Breward found Kolodynski with a raking long pass and the young forward made no mistake with a well-taken lob to take his tally to 19 for the season.

Valley Line-up: Stevens; Nicell, Breward, Gordon, Morley; Woodall (Gearing), Musgrove, King, Purton (Fitzharris); Stone, Kolodynski. Subs not used: Simpson. Booked: Morley. Sent off: None.

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

Report by RTFC Online.