MUCH IMPROVED VALLEY RALLY FOR FIRST AWAY POINT

Photo: Martin Pulley

Daren Dykes wriggles his way out of trouble on the right flank before delivering an excellent cross for Rory Curtis' goal

Rugby battled their way through torrential rain to earn themselves a creditable draw at Top Field on Tuesday night.

In normal circumstances, a point from a midweek game in such tricky conditions against a more-than-useful Hitchin side would be considered a success. However on the back of a five game victory-less start to the season, it still leaves Valley struggling at the very foot of the BGBLP table.

Town did put in their best performance of the season to-date though, finally showing some promise and creativity in attack in a game which swung end-to-end - especially in a chance-enriched second period.

Rod Brown recalled Neil King and Matt Gearing to his starting line-up, dropping both Avun Jephcott and Mark Edge to the bench. There was also a competent debut at left-back from Steve Purton.

Valley started brightly, with Gearing and David Kolodynski - playing in a more central role than in previous games this season - running at the Canaries' defence with good effect.

Kolodynski shot over from the edge of the area on 23 minutes, and Daren Dykes saw his effort curl just off target from 20 yards after he had cut inside from the wing.

With the rain coming down at a rapid rate, conditions under foot were slippery, and this was a significant factor just past the half hour mark when Kevin Banner was adjudged to have taken out Jonathan Woolf inside the penalty box.

Fortunately for Rugby, Lee Wilson's well-struck spot-kick cannoned back off the corner of the crossbar and bounced away to safety.

The visitors’ best chance of the opening period then came after Banner had found Kolodynski with his deep ball into the box. Kolodynski rounded the advancing keeper Martin Bennett, but Dykes was unable to connect with the young striker's cut-back ball.

The game was briefly suspended for a couple of minutes deep into the first half, with the visibility levels for players and officials virtually non-existent.

There was still time for a gilt-edged chance for Hitchin in the run-up to the interval though, with Mark Barnes poking the ball against the legs of Andrew Stevens after having been perfectly set-up with a searching ball through the middle of the Rugby defence.

Both sides came out for the second half with clear intent of victory, and as a result it made for an exciting final 45 minutes.

The home side were unlucky not to break the deadlock around the hour mark, after creating a series of chances in a sustained spell of pressure. Tyrone Sealey and Barnes both went close, with Ian Draycott also having a shot cleared off the line by Delroy Gordon.

Valley rallied with Kolodynski heading Gearing's cross straight at the keeper, and Dykes doing likewise with his strike from the edge of the area. Banner's free-kick also clipped the top of the crossbar shortly after.

Sealey's long ranger also crashed back off the woodwork, before on 75 minutes Rugby finally hit the net for the first time in just a minute short of eight and a half hours.

Dykes showed good strength holding up his marker before his cross picked out the head of substitute Rory Curtis in the box, who directed the ball past Bennett via the crossbar.

The lead was short-lived however, with Hitchin drawing level only a minute later when Derwayne Stupple followed up on a Stevens' parried save from Russell Bull to pass the ball into an empty net.

Dykes then powerfully headed against the post, before the game's final twist that saw a Gordon Barr effort ruled out for offside - much to the amazement and anger of the home crowd.

Valley Line-up: Stevens, Gordon, Purton, Scott, Herbert, King (Jephcott), Gearing, M Taylor (Edge), Kolodynski (Curtis), Dykes, Banner. Subs not used: J Taylor, Ryan. Booked: Purton. Sent off: None.

Hitchin Line-up: Bennett, Pepper, Wilson, Williams, Gilbert, Smith, Woolf (Barr), Stupple, M.Barnes (Bull), Draycott (Gregson), Sealey. Subs not used: None.

Report by RTFC Online.