ROBINS RAVAGE RUGBY

Rugby’s wretched season continued as they slipped to their fifth successive defeat against their fellow strugglers who with this win have a little breathing space to the bottom four.

By Craig Webb.

Photo: Martin Pulley

Rugby midfielder Sam Youngs was Valley's best performer in a generally poor game at St George's Lane.

With manager Lee Colkin unavailable due to family commitments, his assistant Michael Love kept an unchanged side from the home defeat to Bashley in midweek.

With both sides struggling for form this was never going to be a classic and so it proved at a breezy St Georges Lane, at Worcester City’s ground.

The hosts had the first chance on goal when Danny Lennon from a cross from Joshua McKenzie went past young James Farrow to fire a tame shot at Andy Stevens.

Evesham made the brightest start with Lennon forcing Stevens to block his effort from Kevin Spencer’s pass.

The home side were having plenty of the possession with their midfield creating chances for their forwards but lack of finishing power letting the side down.

Rugby’s first meaningful effort came on the half hour mark when Aaron Stringfellow shot just wide after intricate passing from the midfield, then just a couple of minutes later Sam Youngs saw his effort go inches wide.

The ever optimistic Rugby fans were hoping for much better fare in the second half but it never really materialised as they struggled to create any chances.

The hosts again started the half as bright as the first with Stevens having to be alert to save the ball from McKenzie’s tame effort.

Town’s best move and chance in the game came on the hour mark when a cracking ball from Farrow found David Kolodynski who slipped the ball to Shawn Richards but Nathan Vaughan produced a fingertip save.

With Rugby getting more into the game the killer blow came with just 20 minutes to go when substitute Andy Ducros who impressed from the minute he came on scored from a looping shot after seeing Stevens off his line, scoring from Jamie Hyde’s through ball.

The ever dangerous Ducros nearly got his second, but Karl Fellows through himself in front of the shot to usher it out of play. With minutes ticking away, a scramble in Rugby’s penalty area came to nothing when Evesham couldn’t capitalise on Town’s efforts to clear the danger.

The game then fizzled out to the end in what was a disappointing and dour game with few clear cut chances for either side.

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

Evesham Utd: Vaughan, Watson, Hyde, Costello, Luckett, Woodley, Fitter, Spencer, Palmer, Lennon, McKenzie. Subs used: Ducros.