TIGERS DELIVER HARSH REALITY

Valley were condemned to a harsh 3-0 defeat away to in form promotion chasers Gloucester City.

With two late goals, the scoreline in the end flattered the hosts who made it seventeen games without defeat.

Rugby were down to a threadbare 13-man squad with Tom Breward, Stephan Morley, Matt Gearing and Marcel Simpson all unavailable and lined up with a 4-5-1 system.

Top scorer David Kolodynski came into attack at the expense of Jason Turner while Dave Pearson moved into midfield. Neil Melvin made his first start on the left of midfield for the first time in over four seasons.

Valley defended stouted for the first period and limited the home side to a only series of half chances while Rugby came closest when David Staff arrived at the back post but vollied at the goalkeeper.

The closest Gloucester came was Lee Smith's rasping volley which cannoned off the angle of bar and post.

Rugby's gameplan was undone three minutes before the break when Gloucester were awarded a controversial penalty.

Neil King was adjudged to have fouled Alex Sykes in the area and midfielder picked himself up to slot home sending Andrew Stevens the wrong way.

Just moments later, Rugby saw a strong claim for a penalty turned down when a Gloucester defender appeared to handle the ball in the box under pressure from Kolodynski.

Rugby came out for the second half with more purpose and attacking intent and played themselves back into the game to give themselves a fighting chance of claiming a point.

No-one was on hand to tap in Pearson's inch-perfect low cross while substitute Jason Turner came close with two headers.

Neil King saw a shot from the edge of the area whistle past the post as Valley pressed for an equaliser.

The wind was firmly taken out of Rugby's sails when Gloucester effectively ended the game with a second goal eight minutes from time on the counter attack.

With men committed forward, Liam Nicell's loose pass turned into an excellent throughball for the Tigers who pounced and took full advantage with Morford on the end of a swift move.

Substitute Jason Taylor missed a gilt-edged opportunity to get Rugby until the game soon after.

Gloucester's attempted offside trap went badly wrong leaving Taylor and four other teammates free in the box but the tall striker directed his effort straight at Kevin Sawyer.

Kolodynski saw a speculative 20-yard angled shot miss the target before the Tigers got their final goal on the break again with Smith skipping past Steve Purton and Craig Herbert before rolling the ball home.

Valley Line-up: Stevens; Nicell, Purton, Herbert, Gordon; Pearson, King, Musgrove (Turner), Staff, Melvin (Taylor); Kolodynski. Subs not used: None. Booked: None. Sent off: None.

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

Report by RTFC Online.