SYCOB HELD TO DRAW

Rugby Town made it four draws in five league games to-date this season against lowly Beaconsfield at Butlin Road.

By Jon Venner.

Photo: Martin Pulley

Winger Richard Wesley takes the ball in his stride but could not find the target with this first half effort

Ben Steane’s 25th minute opener was squared-up within just ten minutes, and whilst Rugby’s performance was much improved as a whole compared to last Saturday’s poor FA Cup defeat, it was in fact the visitors that looked the more likely winners as the game drew to a close.

Valley boss Martin Sockett made five changes from the resounding reverse at Wednesfield – bringing back Nik Preston, Danny Phipps-Hall and Nick Heath into his defence, giving a first start of the season up-front to Warwick Alexander and a debut to recent signing Andy Gundelach.

There was also a place on the bench for another new signing Melvin Gourlay.

Town made the more assured start and Richard Wesley’s early shot looked goal-bound until it struck the body of a Beaconsfield defender and deflected away for a corner.

Despite the loss of the influential Preston through injury after just twelve minutes, the home side continued to threaten and a dangerous Seb Hamilton cross from the right was just too high for the heads of three oncoming Rugby players.

Wesley then blazed another chance over the bar after Steane’s long range pass had picked him out.

The deadlock was broken when Steane received the ball on the edge of the box, before looking up and picking his spot in the corner with a crisply-struck shot which gave keeper Carl Dennison no chance.

Beaconsfield rallied well though, and Aaron McLeish twice troubled the Town defence with his pace, before his strike partner Jonathan Constant equalised with a clinical finish after he had neatly turned his marker in the box.

Rugby again started the half well after the restart, and on 56 minutes they had their best chance of the game when Steane picked out the run of Hamilton through the middle.

However Dennison was equal to Hamilton’s subsequent effort, denying the forward a fifth goal of the season with a fine block.

Shortly after, Hamilton was in the action again somehow missing the target from close range, after Gary Moran had crossed from the right – however the linesman had already flagged for offside to save Hamilton from full embarrassment.

The away side then took control of proceedings for a significant period of play, with Omar Pike forcing Dave Clarke into a good low stop, Dorian Smith hitting one over the bar and then in controversial circumstances Constant had a goal disallowed – after the Valley players had pleaded with the referee to consult with his linesman, who had flagged earlier in the move for offside.

At the other end, Alexander twice went close for Rugby with shots on the turn – the first he volleyed just over and the second saw Dennison down well to gather the ball at his near post.

Late on, Smith chipped over the bar from distance and Moran put in a good saving tackle to thwart McLeish as he was about the shoot to allow Town to hang onto the point.

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

Beaconsfield: Dennison, Lake, Toone, Bamford, Edwards, Smith, Pike, Nutter, McLeish, Constant, Schoburgh. Subs : Sumner, Martin, Mooney, Lovell, Wilkinson.