ADDERS HOLD ON FOR REPLAY

Valley recorded a fourth consecutive draw of the season and set-up a replay against their local rivals in the process after a full-bodied cup tie at Butlin Road last Saturday.

By Jon Venner.

Photo: Martin Pulley

Despite Valley's strikeforce missing a boat load of chances Seb Hamilton did manage to get an equaliser in the second half

Once more, Martin Sockett's side deserved a victory from the game, but again lacked the finishing touch in front of goal - with Adders' keeper Richard Williams in particularly fine form in his first game back at the club after re-signing in the week of the tie.

Sockett was without the services of midfielders Craig Civzelis through injury and the unavailable Paddy Connolly, and he shuffled his pack to include a first start for new signing for Joe Harris and a wide right berth for Danny Edmond.

Chris Charles also made his competitive debut for Rugby in place of the departed Callum Burgess.

The hosts started brightly, with Richard Wesley driving his effort across the face of the goal after Harris had found him with a flicked header.

Danny Phipps-Hall tested Williams early in the game with a rising shot after the full-back had cut in from the left, and Ben Steane and Seb Hamilton then both went close with close-range strikes in the same attacking move.

After two large downpours, the surface became understandably greasy, and both Phipps-Hall and Atherstone's Martin Crawford were fooled by a low cross which skidded across the box, as the visitors finally threatened the Rugby goal.

Shortly after the Adders took an unexpected lead with their first shot of the game when Dave Clarke fumbled Simeon Smith's speculative volley from twenty yards, and the ball squirmed out of his grasp and into the net.

Clarke made up for his mistake shortly after the restart when he kept out Tom Weale's strike, and from then on Valley took control of the game once more - pressing the opposition back with some attractive attacking football.

Hamilton's low shot was gathered well by Williams, and then the keeper pulled out a top-drawer double save to keep out Wesley and Hamilton's efforts.

The equaliser came just past the hour mark, when Edmond ran at the defence with pace before releasing Hamilton - who struck a crisp low shot into the bottom corner.

Zach Jackson's excellent saving tackle on Edmond two minutes later denied the provider of the first goal a Rugby second not long after, before the visitors came back out of their shell - with a Smith header skidding just wide and a well-struck shot from Weale which deflected away for a corner.

Rugby dominated the closing ten minutes though, and created a series of good chances to win the tie.

Steane's rising drive was taken high by Williams, and 82nd minute substitute Warwick Alexander was soon in the game with an acrobatic on-target attempt.

Wesley's shot was then blocked by Greg Moseley, before Williams pulled out the save of the match - getting down well to touch Steane's low goalbound strike around the post.

From the resulting corner, Williams was again in good form to touch Alexander's header over the bar.

There was still time for a late shout for a Valley penalty to be turned down, after Hamilton went down in the box - meaning the two sides had to go through it all again three days later at Sheepy Road.

Valley Line-up: Clarke; Heath, Phipps-Hall, Charles, Preston; Edmond, Wesley, Steane, Fitzharris; Harris (Alexander), Hamilton. Subs not used: Thomas, Sockett, Babington. Booked: Heath. Sent Off: None.

Atherstone Town: TBC