LONG TRIP BRINGS CLOSE TO LONG WEEK FOR TIRED VALLEY

Rugby Town ended a tough week by making the longest trip in their history, a 560 mile round trip to deepest Cornwall, losing to play-off hopefuls Truro City.

By Craig Webb.

The week which started with a moral boosting victory ended with an energy sapping defeat in glorious early spring sunshine.

The home side have been propelling up the pyramid with successive promotions, and despite currently being 12th position going into this game, still have an outside chance of making the playoffs.

Town Manager Lee Colkin, on a rare occasion this season kept with the same side that drew with Swindon on Thursday.

It was Truro who had the first chance of the game, when Andy Taylor managed a smart turn past the static defence but saw his shot go wide of the post.

Taylor who was to prove to be the dangerous man when he shot again, but this time high and wide, then Rugby goalkeeper Andy Stevens just managed to grab hold of a stinging effort.

Rugby though took the lead in the 18th minute through Greg Smith. Fellow striker David Kolodynski produced an excellent cross from the left into box, and Smith stretched out his foot and saw the ball trickle over the line much to the delight of an excellent bunch of travelling fans.

Town should have made it two just three minutes later when Sam Youngs produced a save for Martin Rice from Smith’s through ball.

Truro though equalised just before the half hour mark from a free kick conceded by Delroy Gordon. That man Taylor from a prime position just outside the penalty area hit a cracking shot to the top right hand corner, leaving Stevens with no chance.

With the confidence beginning to shine through for the home side they took the lead just four minutes later, when Rugby conceded another set piece.

Taylor wasn’t picked up and played a cracking ball to captain Jake Ash who supplied the finishing touch.

Truro seemed to have the cutting edge in the final third which was causing Rugby to giving away too many freekicks.

Town had a great opportunity to start the second half with a goal, but Kolodynski saw the ball smothered by the keeper just when it need a touch to go past him.

The game was lost for Rugby when they went further behind on 59 minutes through their diminutive striker Les Afful. He received the ball midway through the half, side stepped at least 3 defenders to unleash a shot which eluded Stevens.

Rugby now found it hard to create any chances and despite Colkin making substitutions couldn’t break through the Truro rearguard.

The impressive Afful sealed the victory for the home side on 85 minutes and complete unmarked fired a shot leaving Stevens stranded.

Despite the defeat and the long journey Rugby can take heart from a satisfactory performance after such a tough week.

Rugby Town: Stevens; Tullin, Hollist, Fellows, Gordon, Gearing (Richards), Youngs, Oulton, Stringfellow (Love); Smith (Brown), Kolodynski. Subs not used: None. Booked: None. Sent off: None.

Truro City: Rice, Martin, Lindegaard, Pugh, Ash, Taylor, Yetton, Watkins, Afful, Watts.