VALLEY HIT SPORTS FOR SIX

Valley recorded their first win of the season, coasting to victory against West Midlands Premier League Dudley Sports in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup.

By Jon Venner.

Photo: Martin Pulley

Dudley struggled to cope with the aerial prowess of captain Delroy Gordon as the Valley centre back netted a brace

Town skipper Delroy Gordon settled any possible early nerves for the home side in the seventh minute when he smashed home into the bottom corner after Jason Ramsay's initial shot on the turn had been blocked.

The hosts continued to dictate the game for the remainder of the half, with Liam Nicell, Matt Gearing and Ramsay all drawing good saves from Sports keeper Matthew Sidaway.

Gordon turned provider on 36 minutes, heading the ball back across the box to allow David Kolodynski a simple close range finish, with the visitors best chance of the half coming when Craig Herbert almost skewed one past his own keeper on the stroke of half-time.

Dudley had their best spell of the game just after the restart, with both Kalum Evitts and Chris Rabone hurrying the chances that came their way in the Rugby penalty area.

The lively Rabone fired another chance wide, before the dismissal of Stephen Bull just past the hour mark ended any hope for the visiting underdogs.

Sidaway was in fine form again, with a flying one-handed save to David Staff's free-kick, before Gearing then made it three for Town after a well-worked move by the home side.

With the visitors' legs now visibly tiring, Ramsay bundled in Harry Donaghey's cross to extend the lead even further on 79 minutes, and then roles were reversed nine minutes later when Donaghey netted himself after Ramsay had shown good strength on the ball at the by-line.

Gordon then finished what he had started with a towering header for Rugby's sixth in stoppage time to complete the rout.

Valley Line-up: Stevens; Herbert, Gordon, Simpson; Nicell (Richards), Purton (Donaghey), Gearing, Staff, Melvin; Kolodynski (Davis), Ramsay. Subs not used: Bell. Booked: None. Sent off: None.