LATE BORO DOUBLE STUNS VALLEY

10-man Rugby Town were stunned by a late double as newly-promoted Farnborough snatched a win from their hard-working visitors.

The game hinged on the referee's decision to dismiss debutant Ashley Walker with twenty minutes remaining for a late tackle in the centre of the pitch.

Before then, Rugby were 1-0 to the good and had looked in control with the hosts rapidly running out of ideas but with little defensive cover, Walker's dismissal was always going to cause problems.

Rugby boss Rod Brown handed debuts to four players including Walker, as well as short-term signing Dolapo Olaoye and summer acquisitions Andrew Stevens and Kevin Banner.

The pitch at Cherrywood Road was immacculate but the game unusually lacked urgency and seemed to be played at pre-season tempo.

David Kolodynski, deputising on the right of midfield, tested the Boro goalkeeper Lyall Beazley inside the first minute with a rasping drive from twelve yards.

Despite being touted as the huge underdogs, Rugby took the lead when Andy Commander's long straight ball caused confusion in the Boro backline with Beazley clearing against his own defender leaving loan-signing Olaoye with the simplist of finishes into the empty net.

Valley, in general, defended quite well but had a couple of hairy moments during the first half.

Commander failed to react completely after his attempted clearance was closed down leaving Mark Gamble a free run in behind the defence but his cut back was easily cut out by the covering Walker.

Debutant goalkeeper Stevens had an excellent first game for Rugby and he had to be on his toes to deny Michael-Lee Charles when he was clean through on goal.

Rugby's Mark Edge had two attempts from 25-yards before half time but Beazley had each one well covered.

After the break, it was thought that the much-fancied Farnborough would be out of the blocks quickly and put their visitors under severe pressure but this did not materialise as Valley looked comfortable.

If anything, Rugby had the better exchanges of the second period. Kolodynski's low cross found Olaoye who was only denied a second goal by an excellent reaction save from Beazley.

Again it was Kolodynski who provided the ammunition from out wide as this time the cross had to be headed clear from under his own crossbar by a Boro defender with Delroy Gordon threatening.

Farnborough had plenty of possession but few chances although Charles missed an excellent opportunity with an unmarked effort at the far post, heading down into the ground with the ball bouncing over Stevens' crossbar.

Boro almost got lucky when midfielder Ryan Scott's long range effort skewed into the path of team-mate Gamble, but the striker shot over the bar from twelve yards.

On 71 minutes, the momentum was swung dramatically in the hosts' favour when Walker was given his marching orders.

The ball was missed in midfield tempting Walker into making a tackle but the mis-timed attempt of the 20-year-old was seen as dangerous by the referee and a debatable straight red card followed.

Farnborough were in a position to exert more pressure on the make-shift Valley backline but still failed to create many clear-cut chances.

Banner had two half-chances for Valley as he curled a right-footed effort just past the post and saw another easily saved by Beazley.

Stevens made a terrific reaction save from point-blank range after an almighty goal-mouth scramble as Rugby clung on with some dogged defensive work but it all proved in vain as Boro eventually got the breakthrough.

With four minutes remaining, Charles showed good feet in the box to turn Commander and substitute Edward Ryan before firing past Stevens from close range.

Moments later the comeback was complete. Kieran Fitzharris dwelt on the ball in midfield and the ball was stolen by Nic Ciardini and played through for Charles, whose original effort was saved by Stevens but the ball ricocheted back off the Farnborough forward and into the net.

Valley Line-up: Stevens, Gordon, Commander, Scott, Walker, Edge, Kolodynski (Ryan), King, Olaoye (Pearson), Gearing (Fitzharris), Banner. Subs not used: Robinson. Booked: Edge, Gordon, Kolodynski. Sent off: Walker.

Farnborough Line-up: Beazley, Ray, Oliver (Ciardini), Woozley, Doyle, Rumbold, Laidler, Scott (Saunders), Gamble, Charles, Wheeler. Subs not used: Richardson, Burton, Moore

Report by RTFC Online.