RUGBY COLLECT LATE POINT

Photo: Martin Pulley

28-goal striker David Kolodynski shows great composure to fire home Rugby's crucial 90th-minute penalty at Hardenhuish Park.

Rugby Town striker David Kolodynski netted a last minute penalty to seal a draw for Valley away to Chippenham Town.

Rugby had to recover quickly from going behind with just eight minutes remaining to secure what could turn out to be a vital point in the relegation battle.

Valley again put in a good shift and after a shaky start played well in the second period and manager Tony Dobson will feel they could have won the game.

Dobson had a selection dilemma with regular full back Liam Nicell unfit to play meaning midfielder David Staff filling in at right back and Matt Gearing returning to the right wing.

Both sides struggled to piece passes together on the bobbly pitch but the home side responded better in the early exchanges as Rugby had Andy Stevens to thank for making a point blank save after a Chippenham long throw nearly caught Valley napping.

Rugby gradually gave themselves a foothold in the game as the first half progressed as their best chance fell towards helf time. Steve Purton found space down the left but after driving into the penalty area, the midfielder dragged his shot well wide.

Having survived a couple of scares and getting into half time goalless, Rugby upped the tempo in the second half with Kolodynski and Dave Pearson a constant threat in behind the Bluebirds' defence.

Kolodynski spurned by far the best chance of the game when he found himself clean through on goal after Stephan Morley's long ball but the 20-year-old failed to take the ball past the goalkeeper who was stranded outside his area and the chance was gone.

Moments later Pearson looked to be through on goal himself but the goalkeeper did well to save at his feet.

Kolodynski again came close when he engineering some space for himself on the edge of the area before drilling a shot just wide when he should perhaps have tested the goalkeeper.

Chippenham's threat from set pieces was constant and it was from a free kick that they took the lead. Defender Luke Gullick was allowed to bring down the long diagonal free kick absolutely unmarked in the penalty area and fire past Stevens.

Dobson threw on returning striker Daren Dykes and Neil Melvin in a desperate attempt to get something from the game and the latter managed to win the crucial penalty in the final minute of the game.

Melvin picked up the ball after Morley's free kick was only half cleared and was clearly upended in the area. Kolodynski stepped up with confidence and put enough pace on his well taken spot-kick to beat the goalkeeper and earn a point for Rugby.

Valley Line-up: Stevens; Staff (Dykes), Herbert, Gordon, Morley; Gearing, King, Musgrove, Purton (Melvin); Pearson, Kolodynski . Subs not used: Simpson. Booked: None. Sent off: None.

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

Report by RTFC Online.