STEVENS INSPIRES COMEBACK FROM LEFT WING!

Valley secured only their third league win of the season in incredible fashion in an incident packed game with a late dramatic twist.

By Jon Venner.

Photo: Martin Pulley

Valley's goalkeeper Andy Stevens deputised as an outfield substitute and made a dream impact scoring the winning goal with three minutes remaining.

Rugby's winner came with just three minutes remaining when their regular keeper Andy Stevens – given a twenty minute run as an outfield substitute – threw himself at Chris Tullin’s corner to head in.

Didcot had taken the lead on 18 minutes when Phillip John helped Jamie Heapy’s original shot home from close range, but the hosts were soon back in the game when the visitors’ keeper Matt Trott palmed Chris Hollist’s corner into his own net when under pressure from David Kolodynski.

Kolodynski’s penalty gave his side a half-time lead after Trott had taken down Matt Brown in the box, but the scores were level again on 56 minutes when John grabbed his second - also from the spot, after Michael Love was adjudged to have fouled Michael Bartley.

A third penalty was then awarded, again for a foul on Bartley – this time by Sean Castleton – to give John his hat-trick, before Stevens inspired a spirited Valley comeback.

Sam Youngs cleverly flicked in Tullin’s corner on 83 minutes for the equaliser, before Stevens’ late winner sparked jubilant scenes of celebration both on and off the Butlin Road pitch.

Valley Line-up: Bell; Love, Castleton, Fellows; Gearing, Hollist (Stevens); Tullin, Youngs, Farrow; Kolodynski, Brown (Kwegyir). Subs not used: None. Booked: None. Sent off: None.