VALLEY REIGNITE SPARK IN SCINTILLATING COMEBACK

Rugby Town made a spectacular comeback to recover from an early two-goal deficit to defeat Zamaretto Premier side Hemel Hempstead Town in the FA Trophy.

By RUGBYTOWNFC.COM.

Photo: Martin Pulley

Two-goal striker Tyrone Fagan rises highest as the Hemel defence struggle with his aerial prowess

Despite seeing Hemel race into a lead thanks to two goals from Dennis Fenemore, Valley kept their composure with striker Tyrone Fagan scoring either side of half time before captain Niki Preston headed home the winner from a corner.

Incredibly, the win represented Rugby's first ever victory against Hemel Hempstead in their twelfth attempt with nine defeats from the previous eleven encounters.

Valley boss Martin Sockett kept with an unchanged line-up from the league game against Northwood last Saturday with Martin keeping faith with his side to reignite the spark that was missing last weekend.

The Tudors finished just two places above Rugby in the Zamaretto Premier last season but earned a reprieve to keep their place in the Southern League's top flight due to other clubs falling foul financially.

With Hemel sitting in ninth place this season just three points off the play-offs with a game in hand, all from Valley expected a tough game and the opening exchanges certainly proved tough.

Rugby started brightly with Richard Wesley getting the better of his full back in the early stages resulting in a fruitless corner while Seb Hamilton hit the side netting.

However it was the home side who opened the scoring with their first foray into the Rugby half after six minutes.

A quick break down the left saw Ryan Ashe's shot strike the post before Preston blocked Fenemore's attempted effort with the ball falling to Danny May who was caught by Wesley's trailing leg with the referee having no hesistation in pointing to the spot.

Zamaretto Premier top scorer Fenemore put enough pace on the resulting penatly to find the net via the post give a full-stretch Dave Clarke no chance.

Despite the setback, Rugby continued with their early endeavour with Ben Steane and Wesley seeing shots from outside the area fail to trouble Mike McEntegart in the Hemel goal.

The Tudors were a danger on the counter-attack and this was proved the case again on sixteen minutes as Fenemore found space just outside the box before curling a great left-footed effort around the defence and past Clarke's outstretched right hand for the striker's eleventh goal of the campaign.

Now two goals down, Rugby undoubtedly had an uphill task ahead of them but remained positive and were to dominate the remainder of the half.

Valley deservedly reduced the deficit mid-way through the first half after a fine flowing move down the right hand side.

Moran, Heath, Connolly and Steane were all involved with Hamilton upended just outside the right hand side of the penalty area by Matthew McEntegart.

Richard Wesley provided the cross from the resulting free-kick for with Fagan rising highest to powerfully head home his first goal of the game with the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

Another superb five man move for the visitors ended with Steane picking out Nick Heath at the far post and his diving header from ten yards was well held by McEntegart.

Hamilton was unlucky not to equalise when his shot from the edge of the box was charged down and deflected for another corner.

The corner was the last of nine which Valley won in the first half, with Melvin Gourlay's header cleared off the line.

The second half started as the first ended with Rugby on the attack and it was not long before the equaliser arrived, six minutes into the second period.

The impressive Paddy Connolly fed Hamilton whose his fine through ball enabled Fagan to get beyond his marker and with great strength he powered into the box and smashed a right foot drive inside the far post.

Hemel reacted with two substitutions and managed to stop the rot minute spell of good ball retention and a couple of crosses which came to no avail.

The introduction of Rugby substitute Luke Keen seemed to provide another boost and after a spell of pressure on the Hemel goal including a series of corners, crosses and free-kicks it was no surprise when Valley got their winner.

Town's centre back duo combined in attack as Steane's corner was headed goalwards by Gourlay with Preston on hand to nod home into the net to complete the comeback.

Hemel went all out to get back into the game but apart from one free kick which Clarke held well when under pressure from two attackers, he was not tested and the final ten minutes were seen out very professionally by Valley's hard working team who showed great quality throughout.

Valley Line-up: Clarke; Moran, Phipps-Hall, Preston, Gourlay; Heath, Wesley (Keen), Connolly, Steane; Fagan, Hamilton (Gundelach). Subs not used: Sockett, Alexander, Charles. Booked: None. Sent Off: None.

Hemel Hempstead Town: Mike McEntegart, Wharton, Parsons, Thomas, Butler, Matthew McEntegart, May, Ashe (Haule), Fenemore, Stone (French), O’Sullivan (Goss). Subs Not Used: Porter, Vicente.