VALLEY RETURN TO FORM AT AYLESBURY

An improved second half performance from Rugby Town provided a crucial win in their hopes for a play off position at Haywood Park against rivals Aylesbury.

By Craig Webb.

The match was certainly a game of two halves as the home side could have easily have been 3-0 up at half time but could not turn their efforts into goals and instead went in level at 1-1. In the second period Rugby restricted their hosts to handful of minor efforts and added two further goals to secure three excellent points.

Manager Martin Sockett made a few changes after the midweek defeat to Burnham with Seb Hamilton unavailable and Ben Steane on the substitute’s bench. In came new signing Leon Simpson in attack and Melvin Gourlay recovering from injury at centre back with Nick Heath moving into midfield.

Rugby made the better start with both Valley forwards Simpson and Claudiu Hoban having efforts on goal before Richard Wesley provided a teasing cross for Simpson but he saw his shot go wide.

Despite the visitor’s good start, Aylesbury went in front on the fourteen minute mark. A ball came over into the danger area and Glen Hawkins was unchallenged to blast home from eighteen yards.

Aylesbury were clearly the better side at that point and had numerous chances to extend their lead with Jamie Eames hitting his effort too high over the bar and Ricky Miller seeing his shot go straight to Dave Clarke.

Just after the half hour mark, Niki Preston had the first real chance for Town when from Wesley’s cross the defender saw his effort go over.

As half time approached, Eames hit the post but then Rugby’s fortunes turned in the third minute of injury time when Hoban saw his initial shot saved by Steve Smith, but the keeper fumbled the ball and in the midst of a scramble Paddy Connolly stabbed the ball into the empty net.

Despite the equaliser, Rugby had to improve in the second period and they had a great start when Hoban put Town into the lead with a superb individual goal. The striker rode out at least out tackles midway through the half and on the turn unleashed a cracking shot which Smith had no chance to save.

Rugby were clearly in control with the home side struggling to get things moving, and Connolly hit the upright of the goal-frame from a Simpson cross and Andy Gundelach hit the side netting.

It was no surprise when Rugby secured the win with a third in the 84th minute through new striker Simpson. The impressive Hoban took a corner, and the ball initially hit the far post but the bounce fell to Simpson who could not miss from five yards.

A much better performance from the midweek game has put Town back in the mix for the play offs.

Valley Line-up: Clarke; Moran, Phipps-Hall, Preston, Gourlay; Heath, Wesley, Gundelach (Steane), Connolly, Simpson, Hoban. Subs not used: Edwards, Fagan, Goodbody. Booked: None

Aylesbury: S Smith, A Smith, Mead, Douglas, Darby, Butler, Eames, Williams, Miller, Hawkins, Schmidt.