GOALS BEGIN TO FLOW FOR VALLEY

Rugby Town secured their first league win of the season in emphatic style against a 10-man AFC Hayes at Farm Park.

By Craig Webb.

Valley controlled proceedings, taking an early lead through Richard Wesley before Hayes were reduced to ten men. Seb Hamilton's spectacular second all but sealed the points in the first half before Wesley and Ben Steane added further goals late on.

Manager Martin Sockett had to make some enforced changes to his side due to injury and unavailability from the victory at Atherstone in the FA Cup.

Captain Chad Sheppard made his debut in centre midfield in place of Paddy Connolly while Gary Moran returned to the Valley line-up for the first time in five years in place of Nick Heath with Chris Sockett coming in for Danny Phipps-Hall.

With confidence high, Rugby were hoping to build on that in Middlesex and got off to a great start when Danny Edmond hit a speculative effort which only just missed the target.

Town certainly had the better of the opening exchanges with Edmond again having a couple of shots which troubled the home defence.

It was no surprise when Rugby took the lead in the 20th minute.

Hayes' defender Machal was caught in possession by Seb Hamilton and his powerful run in the box culminated in Wesley sliding in at the far post to tuck home Craig Civzelis' mis-cued effort from the edge of the area.

Hayes' effort to immediately respond came five minutes later when Dean Mason forced Rugby goalkeeper Dave Clarke into his first meaningful save getting down well to his right.

The game took a decisive turning point in the 33rd minute when Mason got sent off for Hayes after raising his arm and striking Ben Steane leaving tThe referee had no alternative but to send him off.

Just a few minutes later Hamilton increased Rugby's lead in scintillating fashion.

Wesley worked the ball excellently down the left to find space for a cross which found Hamilton in space twelve yards out and the in-form striker showed great technique to find the corner of the net with a powerful scissor-kick volley.

With a healthy looking lead, Rugby seemed to let the game drift during the second half but without letting Hayes back into the game despite Troy Powell having an effort which was high and wide of Clarke’s goal.

Good interlinking play between Steane and Wesley and Hamilton forced a shot which home goalkeeper Simon Grant did well to save.

With just five minutes to play, the impressive Wesley got his second goal and Rugby's third when Fitzharris found the midfielder in plenty of space on the edge of the area and Wesley slotted the ball with ease past Grant.

With a minute left of normal time Dominic Rhone of Hayes nearly scored the goal of the season when he noticed Clarke was off his line and from his own half he tried an audacious shot on target but Clarke managed to back peddle and tip the ball over the bar.

In the fifth minute of injury time, Rugby rounded off a convincing victory when Steane produced a stunning free-kick from twenty yards straight into the top corner leaving Grant stranded.

The score could have been even more convincing if two headers which found the net from substitute Warwick Alexander had not been disallowed due to offsides, the first of which was very dubious.

With six games unbeaten going into the FA Cup tie with Wednesfield, confidence is sky high that the run can be extended.

Valley Line-up: Clarke; Moran, Sockett, Charles, Preston; Steane, Sheppard (Fitzharris), Civzelis, Wesley; Edmond (Alexander), Hamilton (Harris). Subs not used: Gunderlach. Booked: Alexander. Sent Off: None.

AFC Hayes : Grant, Power, Rhone, Ahir, Machel, Nuako, Mason, South, Powell, Atu, Figuerido.