VALLEY SUFFER BEDFORD BLUES

Valley suffered their second defeat of the opening week of the new campaign on Tuesday night, ending a run of four consecutive home victories over the Eagles in the process.

By Jon Venner.

Photo: Martin Pulley

Midfielder Ben Twigger battles for possession early on

Two late Bedford goals meant the final margin of defeat was very harsh on the hosts, after David Kolodynski's strike had brought Town back into game midway through the second half.

The visitors had opened up a two goal lead by the interval thanks to a long-range strike from Ian Draycott and a simple close range finish by Craig Daniel.

Draycott's opener on 7 minutes came against the run of play, when he lobbed his volley over the head of Andrew Stevens from thirty yards, with the ex-Bedford keeper only slightly off his goal-line.

Rugby had made two changes from the side beaten at Swindon at the weekend, with Matt Gearing replacing Allando Davis on the right hand side of midfield, and there was also a start for Neil Melvin on the opposite flank with Steve Purton slotting in at full-back in place of late withdrawal Harry Donaghey.

Town created a series of half-chances in the opening minutes ahead of Draycott's moment of inspiration, with the stand-out opportunities coming when Gearing failed to fully capitalise after he had broke through the middle of the visitor's defence and Jason Ramsay lifting Kolodynski's cross over the bar from just outside the six-yard box.

Draycott made Valley pay for these however, and Stuart Wall should have added a second shortly after, when he headed wide from a good position.

Draycott then drew a fine reflex save from Stevens, and also fluffed an easy chance when he side footed straight at the keeper, before Eddie Lawley opened up the Rugby defence - skipping past Gearing - before finding the unmarked Craig Daniel, who helped the ball into an empty net.

Rugby rallied themselves for the closing fifteen minutes of the first half though. David Staff and Melvin both sent shots narrowly off-target, and after a fine run which left four opponents in his trail, Kolodynski was denied in the box by a last ditch tackle by Jon Darby.

Aside from an early Tony Battersby strike which was ruled offside, the bulk of the second half goalmouth action was all Valley's.

Staff saw his acrobatic volley fly just over the bar, Kolodynski looped his header agonisingly shy of the crossbar, and Eagles keeper Mike Armitt was down well to keep out Steve Purton's curling free-kick - with Wall then putting in a fine block to keep out Delroy Gordon's effort from the resulting corner.

The introduction of Josh Thompson sparked Town further, and Kolodynski and Staff both had another good effort each, but unfortunately the ball just was not breaking kindly for the hosts in front of goal.

Keeper Stevens turned goal provider on 70 minutes, when he showed good skill and strength when dealing with a Bedford long ball, before picking out Kolodynski with his upfield return pass. Kolodynski duly made it two in two games with a neat finish under the body of Armitt.

Just a minute later, Armitt pulled out a great low reaction save to deny Ramsay an equaliser after Purton's cross had picked him out. Another marauding run from Purton saw Gearing just beaten to the ball, and then Kolodynski's deep cross was only just out of the reach of Craig Herbert.

With Valley pushing forward, gaps inevitably started to appear at the other end, and Jonathan Woolf poked one wide when he really should have finished the game off.

Substitute Dan Walker obliged on that front however with just two minutes of normal time remaining, when he fired low past Stevens after he had broke from deep, and then fellow sub Joe Power tapped in Walker's pull-back to compound a frustrating evening for the home fans.

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