ADDERS VICTORY SLIPS FROM TOWN'S GRASP

Valley let victory slip out of their hands in the local derby at Sheepy Road on Tuesday evening, when after having taken a late lead in an uninspiring game, they then proceeded to concede an even later equaliser.

By Jon Venner.

Photo: Martin Pulley

Valley's squad mob goalscorer Niki Preston after they thought they had secured a late winner only for Atherstone to equalise moments later

Rugby never really got to grips with the conditions on the night, with the bobbly pitch not conducive to the quick passing game that Martin Sockett’s side prefer to employ.

As a result, clear cut goalscoring opportunities were few and far between.

The first half chance of the game fell to the Adders, when Nathan Waite’s deflected shot looped agonisingly wide of the target. Rugby’s in-form marksman Luke Keen then put in a shot on the run, but was unable to get any real force behind his connection.

Paddy Connolly saw his strike from just inside the box blocked, and Atherstone’s Josh Ruff should have done better when he found himself free on the left, but could only flash his effort across the face of the goal.

Danny Edmond – in from the start for Andy Gundelach, having replaced him early in the assured victory over Marlow at the weekend – had the best opportunity of the half for Valley, when he forced Courtney Belford to turn his rising shot away for a corner.

On 39 minutes, ex-Rugby man Ollie Babington’s deflected strike saw Dave Clarke do well to match Belford’s save.

Seb Hamilton’s powerful run from the halfway line, which left a number of Adders’ defenders in his trail, was finally ended on the edge of the area, as a poor half of football drew to a close.

The second period followed pretty much the same pattern, with Rugby all too often resorting to long ball tactics to try and make the breakthrough.

Keen cut inside and sent his shot over the bar, and Babington’s header was taken at the second attempt by Clarke – as both men looked to register against their old clubs.

Keen, Hamilton and Nick Heath combined well for the visitors in the best move of the game, although Keen was then adjudged to have pushed a defender in the back after Heath picked him out with a deep cross.

Connolly’s first touch let him down with the goal gaping from twelve yards, and with Valley finally taking control of the game, Edmond headed Ben Steane’s free-kick wide of the goal.

Rugby’s patience looked to have paid off when on 83 minutes Melvin Gourlay headed another Steane free-kick back across the box, and Nik Preston rose well to direct his header past Belford.

However, the game had a further twist four minutes on when Tom Weale’s long throw was met by the head of Adam Wood, and the resulting contact went just beyond the reach of the stretching Clarke and ended up in the net.

Valley Line-up: Clarke; Moran, Phipps-Hall, Preston, Gourlay; Edmond, Heath, Connolly, Steane; Hamilton, Keen. Subs not used: CHarles, Thomas, Goodbody, Gundelach. Booked: None. Sent Off: None.

Atherstone Town: C.Belford, Crawford, Sockett, Milner, Wood, Purlsow, Ruff, Ryan, Smith, Waite, Babington. Subs: Weale, Amory, Harrison, Webb, D.Belford.