SINGLE LACK OF CONCENTRATION COSTS VALLEY

Jamie Barker's 52nd minute goal was enough for Cambridge City to see off Rugby Town in a dour encounter at the City Ground.

By Jon Venner.

The loss meant that Town slipped to a 22nd league defeat of the season and once more it was a lack of a finishing touch that proved their undoing, against a Cambridge side that – despite their top half of the table status - looked distinctly average themselves on the night.

Rugby arguably edged the hosts in terms of half chances created, but ex-Histon man Barker’s second half strike separated the sides at the end of a generally dour affair.

Valley boss Lee Colkin made two changes from the weekend game at Truro, recalling Matt Brown to his attack and bolstering his defence with the inclusion of youngster Sam Burtwhistle.

The first half of the game was particularly lacking in notable match action, with just one shot on target throughout the entire forty five minute period – a twenty yarder on the turn by City’s Ramon Calliste on 40 minutes which was saved to his left by Andy Stevens.

Before that Pat Bexfield had struck a long ranger over the bar for the home side, and for Town Burtwhistle had a shot blocked and Brown almost nipped in on a long ball down the middle, but Cambridge keeper Zac Barrett was quick to read the situation to clear his lines.

The visitors started the second half brightly, showing their intent with an attacking move straight from the kick-off, which saw Sam Youngs fire over from distance after a neat one-two with David Kolodynski.

Two minutes later City defender Milton Elenge nearly headed past his own keeper, but Barrett scrambled across to keep the ball out.

However it was the home side that broke the deadlock when Rugby switched off momentarily for a quick free-kick around the box.

As a result, Tony Burke got in behind their defence and he provided Barker with the opportunity to slide the ball under Stevens.

Town responded well though, and Ross Oulton’s low-shot was well-saved by Barrett on 55 minutes.

On the hour mark, Valley were again on the wrong end of a tight call in the penalty area, with Kolodynski appearing to have been fouled, after he had linked well with Chris Tullin.

Karl Fellows’s free-kick then produced a smart save, but the stop of the game was provided by Stevens with a spectacular one to keep out Calliste’s scissor kick effort.

Rugby had a chance to salvage a point at the death when substitute Ibrahim Kwegyir crossed from the right. However fellow sub Shawn Richards’s touch let him down and then Tullin blazed the loose ball over the bar.

Rugby Town: Stevens; Fellows, Gordon, Birtwhistle; Stringfellow, Hollist (Gearing), Tullin, Youngs, Oulton (Richards); Brown, Kolodynski (Kwegyir). Subs not used: Bell. Booked: None. Sent off: None.