LEADERS CANTER TO COMFORTABLE WIN

Rugby suffered their sixth successive away defeat but can take heart from a much improved and encouraging performance at Cherrywood Road.

By Craig Webb.

Faced with late withdrawal and injuries, this was always going to be a difficult game with the hosts hoping to go back to the top of the table.

Recent signing Ashley Pringle was unavailable due to work commitments while Matthew Gearing and David Staff were both injured. There were starts for young Sean Castleton and striker Jason Ramsay.

The signs were ominous for Town after just 35 seconds when Anthony Thomas flashed his header wide of the post, and the away fans fears of conceding an early goal were justified with Farnborough going ahead after four minutes when James Smith outjumped everybody in the centre of the penalty area to finish off an excellent corner from Daryl McMahon.

Credit though to Rugby who did not let their heads drop. Shawn Richards - who was to have his best game for the club - had the first of many chances when he found space midway through the Farnborough half only to see his shot go straight into the arms of goalkeeper Richard Barnard.

The home side’s forward line of Kezie Ibe and former Ipswich Town player Dean McDonald were starting to cause havoc among Rugby’s defence, creating chances for each other, but both guilty of scooping shots high and wide.

After half hour, Farnborough were playing free flowing football and fully justifying their championship favourites’ tag.

Rugby were fortunate to go in half time at 1-0 when McDonald produced silky skills, but both Delroy Gordon and Karl Fellows were strong in defence making the striker stifle his shot.

As in the first half, Farnborough doubled their lead just four minutes after the restart. That man McDonald again was completely unmarked in the box, going past Castleton to coolly score.

Again though Rugby were still in the game, as Richards and Sean Youngs both had efforts on goal, and the team were passing the ball well and working together to create chances.

Their endeavour was rewarded nineteen minutes from time, when a good run by David Kolodynski caused panic in the defence and in the confusion Smith bundled the ball over his own goal line, though Kolodynski said afterwards he was claiming it.

Despite Andy Stevens having another consistent game, he was helpless for Farnborough’s third goal which came just 4 minutes after Town got back into the game.

A corner ball seemed too long, but the ball was pumped back into the danger area and Ibe couldn’t miss from 6 yards.

To make the scoreline a bit flattering for the home side, their French defender Sacha Opinel scored a last minute goal, sidefooting the ball home after neat passing.

Another defeat, but Rugby can take heart going into the crucial game with Evesham United on Saturday.

Valley Line-up: Stevens; Nicell, Castleton, Simpson, Gordon; Richards, Davis, Fellows, Youngs; Kolodynski, Ramsay. Subs not used: Huddlestone. Booked: None. Sent off: None.