CUP CAMPAIGNS OVER

Valley’s cup interests for the season were extinguished on Tuesday evening, when they let an early goal lead slip in the Birmingham Senior Cup against Alvechurch.

By Jon Venner.

Two second half goals from the Midland Alliance side deprived Lee Colkin of an early success in charge at Town, after the new manager had made five changes from the side that had started against Merthyr at the weekend.

Colkin used the game as an opportunity to check out the claims of Marcel Simpson, Shawn Richards, Sam Youngs, Allando Davis and Jamie McGhee. Of the quintet, it was recent arrival McGhee that made the biggest impact on a slippery surface which made it difficult to play football of any real quality.

Despite these unfavourable conditions, Rugby made their often-seen bright start, with McGhee kicking-off the move which saw them take the lead after just seven minutes.

His long crossfield ball picked out Davis on the left, and the resulting cross into the box was contested by Greg Smith and Alvechurch defender Craig Frost. Smith claimed the final contact from close range to notch his second goal in as many games at the club.

While Andy Stevens had to get down well to keep out Naveed Arshad’s effort on 15 minutes, most of the clear-cut chances of the first half did come Valley’s way.

Davis nearly took advantage of a mix-up in the home defence after Sam Youngs had played an incisive through-ball , and later Smith nearly added to his tally when he put his shot into the side netting after cutting in front the left hand side of the penalty area.

On the stroke of half-time, McGhee’s penetrating run was ended by a foul on the edge of the box, but the same player scuffed the free-kick and the hosts received a let-off in the process.

Delroy Gordon and Smith both had early chances for Town, but after Liam Nicell slipped in possession on the hour mark, Alvechurch’s Matt Gasper was given a free run on goal and applied a simple finish low past Stevens for the equaliser.

Matters then got worse for Rugby with the conditions once more a contributory factor. A long defensive clearance skidded off the surface and Arshad was the quickest to read the situation, getting in behind the defence before beating Stevens for the second time in seven minutes.

Valley plugged away bravely after that in search of an equaliser of their own.

Their best chance of late salvation came after Simpson’s excellent ball to McGhee saw the young winger’s shot bounce back off the upright.

Valley Line-up: Stevens; Nicell, Simpson, Gordon, Herbert, McGhee, Richards (Kolodynski), Youngs, Bowles; Smith, Davis (Gearing). Subs not used: Castleton, Fellows. Booked: None. Sent off: None.