MANAGERLESS VALLEY EARN DRAW

Manager-less Rugby Town earnt only their third point of the season against an Evesham side that played out a goal-less draw for the fourth successive league match.

By Jon Venner.

Photo: Martin Pulley

Captain Delroy Gordon saw a last gasp effort block off the line - a moment that would have almost certainly seen Valley claim their first league win of the season

The visitors came closest to breaking the deadlock – firmly striking the woodwork in each half.

Justin Rowe smashed his close range effort against the top of the upright in the first period and Simon Fitter's free-kick came back off the crossbar in the game’s closing minutes.

United had had the better of a generally disappointing opening half. Rowe saw an early shot cleared from the line by Delroy Gordon, and then on 30 minutes he also shot straight at Andrew Stevens. Jermaine Clark's low strike was also blocked on the line.

For Valley, David Kolodynski's curler from 20 yards represented their only on-target effort after a neat passing move instigated by Karl Fellows.

The game opened up a little after the interval though, and Sean Castleton had an early chance for the home side with a header.

Shawn Richards then almost broke the deadlock after a strong run and sliding shot which was well-taken by Nathan Vaughan, and Kolodynski also tested Vaughan with a strike from just inside the box after he had cut in from the left wing.

Evesham's James Cooper struck a low volley straight at Stevens, and Vaughan kept out Richards' low ball across the face of the goal.

Fitter's set-piece looked to have clinched the game on 87 minutes, but fortunately the ball bounced down kindly for Stevens.

Shortly after, a Fellows' corner was almost bundled home at the far post by Delroy Gordon, and in stoppage time Vaughan was again down well to smother Jason Ramsay's low pull-back.

Valley Line-up: Stevens; Nicell, Commander, Castleton, Gordon; Gearing (Ramsay), Davis, Fellows, Youngs; Kolodynski, Richards. Subs not used: Birtwhistle, Herbert, Bell. Booked: None. Sent off: None.