3RD WIN ON BOUNCE LIFTS VALLEY OFF BOTTOM

Photo: CS

Valley defender Delroy Gordon returned to the centre back and helped Rugby to their third league clean sheet of the season.

Scott Musgrove's 86th-minute goal provided Rugby Town with a third successive league win and their first ever at Ladysmead against Tiverton Town.

After surviving a second-half onslaught from the Tivvy attack, Rugby brushed themselves off to grab a valuable late winner to lift themselves off the foot of the table for the first time since August.

Rugby boss Tony Dobson made three changes with returning left-back Stephan Morley slotting in at left back at the expense of Steve Purton while Andy Commander and Matt Gearing made way for Delroy Gordon and Kieran Fitzharris.

Valley started brightly and David Stone stretched to connect with David Kolodynski's low centre in the opening five minutes but he could only direct his shot high over the bar.

Kieran Fitzharris's strong run at the heart of the Tiverton defence looked to have paid off when he was clumsily brought down in the area but the referee waved away the strong appeals.

The best chance of the half undoubtedly came to Scott Musgrove when Stone pulled the ball across the area but the midfielder's goal-bound effort from seven yards was deflected agonisingly wide.

Fitzharris and Stone also came close to breaking the deadlock in the first half while Tiverton had two good chances to score but failed to trouble Andrew Stevens in the Rugby goal.

Valley would have felt they should have led at the break after the amount of good chances created but the second half was an entirely different affair.

After a quiet opening fifteen minutes to the second period, Tiverton started to exert a lot of pressure and had countless dangerous long throws, corners and free-kicks but Rugby managed to keep the home side out after a sustained spell.

Tivvy thought they had drawn first blood when the Fraser's clever flick had Stevens motionless as the ball headed for the bottom corner but Delroy Gordon appeared from nowhere to clear the ball off the line.

Despite the sustained pressure, Tiverton only managed shots from long range which Stevens dealt with impeccably before Valley stole all three points.

Kolodynski appeared to have missed Rugby's chance to win it when he completely missed the ball after Stone's run and cutback but Valley were to have one more chance.

Liam Nicell's deep cross was poorly dealt with by Tiverton goalkeeper Steve Book who allowed Stone to challenge for the ball inside the six yard box. The ball bounced down for Musgrove who stabbed the ball home from close range to seal an excellent win.

Valley Line-up: Stevens, Nicell, Morley, Breward, Gordon, Herbert, Fitzharris (Gearing), King, Stone, Kolodynski (Pearson), Musgrove. Subs not used: Clarke, Commander, Purton. Booked: Fitzharris. Sent off: None.

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

Report by RTFC Online.