VALLEY MAKE IMPROVEMENTS BUT NOT TO SCORELINE

Rugby made the long trip to Devon, and slipped to another away defeat despite an improved performance at Ladysmead.

By CRAIG WEBB.

Manager Tony Dobson made changes after the poor display at Oxford with Marcel Simpson and Steve Purton both starting, with Ben Twigger dropped to the bench and Neil Melvin out with a hamstring injury. Danny Bell kept his place in goal with Andy Stevens still injured.

On a glorious late summers afternoon, the travelling fans who made the 360 mile round trip were hoping for the first win and confidence was high when Rugby went ahead in the 8th minute.

A close range free-kick taken by David Staff hit the wall and bounced around the penalty area before Jason Ramsay composed himself to score from close range and put Rugby in front for the first time this season.

Town were now playing well with better passing and intelligent runs down the wing from Matt Gearing and they nearly doubled their lead midway through the half when Simpson put his diving header just wide from Steve Purton’s corner.

A Delroy Gordon header and a shot from Gearing was evidence that Town were playing the better football and the travelling support thought it was 2-0 on 37 minutes, but Staff’s effort was ruled out for an apparent handball by Ramsay.

The hosts delivered a blow to Town three minutes before half time when Tom Gardner from a Ben Cleverley free-kick seized on calamitous defending to the send the sides into the break all square.

Unfortunately the defending cost Rugby the game, when they conceded two goals in the first nine minutes of the second half.

A through ball went over Craig Herbert’s foot, which let in Dean Griffiths who kept his cool to send the hosts into the lead.

Rugby’s failure to defend set-pieces was shown again for the third goal, Dave Morrissey scoring with a free header completely unmarked from a long free-kick.

Tiverton nearly had their fourth on 56 minutes when a long ball upfield again caught out Town’s backline but Cleverley shot wide when he should have done better.

There was a danger that Tiverton would run away with the game but poor finishing stopped the score being higher.

Dobson tried to change things using all his three subs for the last 15 minutes but no to avail, though Ramsay and Shawn Richards had late efforts which didn’t trouble the keeper.

Defending at set pieces is something which needs to be worked on, as Rugby face a stern test against freescoring rivals Leamington on Bank Holiday Monday.

Valley Line-up: Bell; Nicell, Donaghey, Herbert, Gordon; Gearing (Richards), Purton (Davis), Simpson (Twigger), Staff; Kolodynski, Ramsay. Subs not used: Castleton. Booked: Staff. Sent off: None.

Tiverton Town: Book, Adam Faux, Alex Faux, Villis, Rudge, Gardner, Booth, Cleverley, Morrissey, Hatch, Griffiths. Subs: Veale, Humphreys, Cole, Saunders, Wannell.