VALLEY PUSH LEADERS ALL THE WAY BEFORE LATE LEAKS

A Dean McDonald hat-trick helped Farnborough continue on their merry march towards the title, banging another nail in Valley's relegation coffin in the process.

By Jon Venner.

Photo: Martin Pulley

Right back Aaron Stringfellow bursts forward during a good performance which was tarred by three late goals by Farnborough

On paper, a match-up between the runaway league leaders and the division's rock-bottom side was only ever going to generate one outcome - and this theory appeared to have been supported by the final four goal margin.

However in reality, this large gulf between the two sides on the day was not always so clear, and but for Boro's late goal blitz - which saw three strikes in the final thirteen minutes - the end-game reflection would have been more one of a creditable, narrow defeat.

Further to this had referee Mark Hutchinson not shied away from making the brave decision to send off visiting captain Steve Robinson when he clearly flattened Town's Matt Brown with a raised arm early in the second half, then the plucky display put in by a young Rugby side might have even generated an even better return.

With the departure of Delroy Gordon, Town manager Lee Colkin recalled Matt Gearing to his starting line-up - returning Chris Tullin to a defensive role once more.

Farnborough underlined their table topping status with two early chances in the opening three minutes - with Jack King volleying straight at Andy Stevens and Robinson's header into the ground then pulling an acrobatic save from the home keeper.

Shortly after, Sam Youngs headed home Karl Fellows's free-kick, but the match official had already spotted an incident within the penalty area and ruled out the goal.

Town continued to play some neat football - especially in the middle of the park, but the visitors always looked threatening in the final third, with McDonald putting one header against the crossbar and King having his cleared off the line by Tullin.

Rugby had their best attacking spell of the game in the immediate lead-up to the opening goal though.

David Kolodynski's was always stretching whilst trying to lift a high ball into the box from Aaron Stringfellow in a goalwards direction, and Brown almost caught Boro keeper Michael Jordan off-guard with a shot from twenty yards which skimmed across the surface, after good interchange play with Kolodynski.

On 26 minutes, McDonald was then given too much time and room on the edge of the Valley penalty area, and his well-placed shot sneaked past Stevens and into the bottom corner.

Another Fellows free-kick and a long-ranger from Youngs did not trouble Jordan excessively in the lead-in to the half-time interval.

The second period started with another good headed chance for King, but he sent it over the target from close range.

Once Robinson's ugly aerial challenge into the back of Brown's head was only punished with a yellow card, the intensity of the game clearly upped a notch or two.

Despite the clear physical advantage of the Hampshire side, Colkin's men gave as good as they got for a period of time, and Stringfellow went close with his left foot after a good run and Youngs also blazed over from just inside the box after a knock-down from debutant Mike Glover - who had come on at half-time.

Glover was then joined by fellow youth teamer James Farrow - also making a first appearance in a senior shirt for the club.

For Farnborough, the pace and directness of Craig Barrett and Owen Price was causing all sorts of trouble down Rugby's left hand side, with Price putting one into the side-netting after one such run at the defence.

Finally Valley's resolve gave way, and a poor headed clearance by Tullin was seized upon by McDonald - who again fired home from the edge of the area.

Two minutes on, McDonald completed his hat-trick when strike partner Bradley Bubb hustled his way in behind Tullin to cross to allow him an straight-forward finish from close range.

Boro substitute Anthony Thomas was given too much time by a now-tiring Town, and he made it four in the 88th minute.

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