CORBY ON TOP AFTER TIGHT ENCOUNTER

Photo: Martin Pulley

Captain Delroy Gordon formed a solid back three but was ultimately undone by Steve Towers' 61st minute 20-yarder

Rugby Town were very unlucky to fall to a 2-0 defeat to league leaders Corby Town at Butlin Road after another good performance by Valley's players.

The game was extremely tight with both sides carrying plenty of goal threat and it was clear that the scorer of the first goal would carry a great advantage in such a close encounter.

Both sides came close in front of a bumper Easter Monday crowd at Butlin Road before Corby took the lead with a 20-yarder before rounding the win off in the dying moments as Valley pressed for an equaliser.

Other results aroundt the BGB Premier means Rugby lie in 17th place, two places aboe the drop zone but now just goal difference seperates them from Banbury.

Tony Dobson was without David Staff (hamstring) so had to shuffle his pack again with Neil Melvin returning to midfield and a rejigged formation.

After a quiet start both teams had chances in the first half with Andrew Stevens doing extremely well to smother at the feet of Jason Lee after Delroy Gordon had made a goal-line clearance following a free kick.

Valley came closest when Matt Gearing was nearly rewarded for his excellent run and near-post cross but David Kolodynski's clever flick rebounded off the upright with the goalkeeper stranded.

Rugby grew in confidence towards the end of the half with Melvin failing to get enough power on his left-foot effort after picking up on a loose ball and bursting into the penalty area.

Such was Valley's first half performance that Corby were forced to change their shape in the second half as a reaction but clear cut chances were still hard to come by.

Kolodynski and Gearing both came close with rasping efforts before Corby broke the deadlock.

A long kick upfield from the Steelmen's goalkeeper fell to Steve Towers who sent a dipping shot high into the top corner giving Stevens no chance and sending the travelling support into raptures.

Valley pressed for an elusive equaliser and won numerous corners but could not make the pressure pay.

The best chance of the second half fell to substitute Daren Dykes who fired over on the half volley following Steve Purton's corner while Rugby saw a strong penalty appeal turned down when a Corby defender appeared to handle the ball in the area.

With men committed forward, Valley were always vulnerable on the break and substitute Turner finished the hosts off with a minute remaining , running unchallenged into the area before coolly finishing past Stevens.

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

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

Report by RTFC Online.