VALLEY SUFFER FA CUP EMBARRASSMENT

Rugby Town crashed out of the FA Cup sponsored by E.On in embarassingly comprehensive fashion at the hands of West Midlands League minnows Wednesfield in the First Qualifying Round.

By Craig Webb.

Photo: Martin Pulley

Rugby midfielder Ben Steane worked hard but he, along with his team-mates, could find no rhythm or penetration at the Cottage Ground

Rugby's unbeaten start to the season came to a shuddering halt at the hands of the Cottagers, a club two levels below from the West Midlands Regional League.

After an encouraging start to the season, optimism was high going into the game, but poor tactics and an inept display made sure that Wednesfield had one of the best days in their history at the Cottage Ground.

After the excellent victory at Hayes last week, manager Martin Sockett made two changes to his starting line up, bringing in Kieran Fitzharris and Paddy Connolly in place of Danny Edmond and the injured influential central defender Niki Preston.

With just Seb Hamilton up front and five men across the midfield, these tactics were to prove the wrong ones after just forty minutes of play.

The early warning signs were there for Rugby after just seven minutes when a good run and shot from Lee Warner produced a fingertip save from Dave Clarke.

Just four minutes later, the home side went ahead after a long throw-in as unmarked striker Paul Sullivan cleverly arched his back to get his body behind the flicked-on set-piece and shot into the net from close range leaving Clarke stranded.

Rugby at this stage were under severe pressure and it no surprise that Wednesfield doubled their lead in the 18th minute when again some woeful defending allowed Simeone Ritchie to tap home from Sullivan's cross with Valley's defenders seemingly nowhere to be seen.

Despite this wretched start, Rugby did not change tactics and Wednesfield had more chances to increase their lead through Sullivan and Ritchie.

Rugby’s first shot on goal did not come until the 34th minute when the hard working Ben Steane produced an effort but it was way off target, not troubling home keeper Ben Astley.

The awful first half continued and the game seemed to be slipping further away when five minutes before half time Valley found themselves 3-0 down.

The home side had again found a gaping hole in the centre of Valley's defence and despite Clarke saving from Ritchie, Warner pounced to extend the West Midlands League side's lead.

Rugby had to change it in the second half and Sockett made a triple substitution for the second half bringing on Nick Heath and two strikers Warwick Alexander and Joe Harris.

The changes certainly seemed to steady the ship with Rugby having more of the ball but still no cutting edge in their play.

Midway through the second period, Rugby had a lifeline when Connolly scored after Wednesfield's goalkeeper Astley only half cleared following Steane corner.

A major flashpoint in the game though came in the 71st minute after substitute Alexander was sent off for a second bookable offence much to the shock of the away fans.

The officials deemed that he obstructed the keeper from taking his kick, when the striker appeared that he had his back to him.

Despite the prostestations of the Rugby players, Town were down to ten men.

The game by now was getting very physical and was all but over for Rugby when Wednesfield made it 4-1 with six minutes to play.

Darren Leonard hit a low free-kick but Clarke, much like Robert Green's mistake for England in the World Cup in the summer, saw the ball slip from his grasp and trickle over the goal-line.

It was left for Valley defender Chris Charles to sum up a torrid afternoon as the centre half inexplicably attempted to produce a turn in the box only to lose possession and allow Ritchie to net his second of the game and Wednesfield's fifth in the final moments.

Valley Line-up: Clarke; Moran, Sockett (Heath), Connolly, Charles; Steane, Wesley, Sheppard, Fitzharris (Harris), Civzelis (Alexander); Hamilton. Subs not used: Phipps-Hall, Thomas. Booked: Alexander. Sent Off: Alexander.

Wednesfield: Astley, Ecclestone, Warner, Moore, Carter, Crapp, Holdcroft, Boswell, Johns, Sullivan, Ritchie.