STONE STRIKES AGAIN

After six weeks of inactivity due to the adverse weather, Rugby returned to action against their near rivals hoping to build on the win last time out at Clevedon and continue on the winning run, but it was not to be.

By Craig Webb.

Photo: Martin Pulley

Striker Gez Murphy comes close to an equaliser before being forced off with a hamstring injury.

Manager Lee Colkin, made one change from the game last month, with Michael Love making way for Andy Commander to return to the side in central defence.

With Banbury managed by former Town boss, Billy Jeffrey and fielding ex-players, David Stone and Jason Taylor this match was always going to have an extra edge to it.

The early pressure in the game came as expected from the home side, and Taylor had a chance within ten minutes, but his shot was straight at Andy Stevens, after his pace beat two defenders.

Rugby immediately responded when David Staff hit a shot towards goal, there were half hearted claims by the fans for a handball, but the referee played on.

Town were playing well but couldn’t get through a packed Banbury midfield. Town’s best chance of the half came from Matt Brown when he was one on one with the keeper, but Joe Murrell made a cracking save to deny the striker.

Banbury started to get back into the game, when Declan Benjamin unleashed a blistering shot from a free kick with Stevens having to be at his absolute best to keep it out.

Five minutes before half time, the home side went ahead, when Stone got the better of Delroy Gordon to slide his shot past Stevens to put The Puritans ahead going into the break.

If Rugby were hoping they would get back into the game early in the second half they were wrong when they went 2-0 down on 53 minutes.

A rare defensive error from Gordon allowed that man Stone again to inflict further damage on the away side with a shot which left Stevens with no chance.

Within five minutes of the goal, Town made a double substitution with Matt Gearing and new signing Ross Oulton coming on for Shawn Richards and Karl Fellows, and this change indicated more pressure from Rugby resulting in Liam Nicell bidding for a second goal in successive games, but his effort being blocked by Murrell.

This pressure finally told on seventy minutes when Gez Murphy equalised from the penalty spot, when Gearing was tripped just inside the area after collecting a good through ball from Nicell.

This was the last major contribution from Murphy before being taken off injured with Josh Thompson being his replacement.

With the fresh energy of Thompson, Town were going for the equaliser, and Oulton had a speculative shot which went wide of the post and in the last minute of stoppage time Gordon hit the side netting after good work from Thompson.

Another defeat borne out of individual errors cost Rugby once again, and with results going against them involving teams above them, it see’s a long second half of the season ahead.

Valley Line-up: Stevens; Nicell, Tullin, Gordon, Commander; Richards (Gearing), Staff, Fellows (Oulton), Youngs; Murphy (Thompson), Brown . Subs not used: Kewgyir. Booked: Commander. Sent off: None.

Banbury United: Murrell, McDonald, Martin, Milner, Baldwin, Haisley, Coleman, Benjamin, Stone, Taylor, Ashton.
Subs: Gardner, Learoyd, Sharife, Redknap, Stanbridge.