NERVY WIN PROVIDES VALLEY WITH VALUABLE CUSHION

Photo: Martin Pulley

Returning striker Jason Turner takes a tumble in the box under Scott Hendy's challenge to give Rugby an early penalty.

Rugby Town sealed a crucial win over Mangotsfield United at Butlin Road to provide a valuable cushion over the relegation zone going into the final two games.

Valley made extremely hard work of the win as the already-relegated Mangoes put in a good performance to make things difficult for Rugby who were desperate for the three points.

David Kolodynski's early double strike, which took the 20 year old to 30 goals for the season, eventually proved enough despite Valley missing a host of chances in the second half to kill the game off.

Manager Tony Dobson made two changes and reverted to a 4-4-2 formation with Liam Nicell and Jason Turner returning in the place of Neil Melvin and Dave Pearson.

Rugby made the perfect start during their first foray into the Mangotsfield half after three minutes when Turner was brought down in the penalty after his clever dummy and the referee pointed to the spot.

Kolodynski coolly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with his penalty and Rugby got the early goal they set out to get.

In the first half however, Valley were anything but impressive and they struggled to keep possession while allowing the Mangotsfield front three far too much space, inviting the pressure.

The visitors started to threaten before Steve Purton missed a gilt-edged opportunity seeing his effort just deflected wide when he was clean through on the angle coming in from the left.

Moments later and the Mangoes had a foothold in the game when Stephan Morley was harshly adjudged to have handled the ball in the area and MAngotsfield defender Arndale repeated Kolodynski's trick by sending Stevens the wrong way with his penalty.

Rugby were soon in front again when Purton's excellent deep inswinging free kick was turned in by Kolodynski from close range.

The home side looked nervous in the first half and struggled to get tight to their men allowing Mangotsfield to press high up the field and have chances of their own.

Valley got safely into half time ahead and came out for the second half with more purpose with substitute David Staff having a positive impact.

The visitors rarely threatened in the second half as their work rate levels dropped while Rugby looked to turn their possession and pressure into goals to see the game off.

However, as has been the case so many times this season, Rugby could not find the goals when the chances came along.

Firstly Turner headed over when a free six-yard header before subsitute Daren Dykes inexplicably scuffed his shot straight to the goalkeeper when through on goal.

Dykes also missed the target with a close range effort late on before Rugby had one or two nervy moments in defence with Delroy Gordon well placed to clear a Scott Hendy header from equalising.

In the end, Rugby's missed opporuntities did not cost them and they managed to seal the three points meaning one more win will ensure BGB Premier football next season.

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

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

Report by RTFC Online.