DETERMINED VALLEY SEE OFF PLUCKY BEDFONT

Two goals in the final six minutes were enough for Rugby Town to claim victory against an impressive Bedfont Town at Butlin Road.

By Craig Webb.

Photo: Martin Pulley

Front three (from the left) Tyrone Fagan, Seb Hamilton and Luke Keen celebrate the latter's first half header

Valley twice took the lead in the first half with headed goals from Seb Hamilton and Luke Keen with Bedfont equalising both efforts during the first half.

The game seemed increasingly likely to be heading for a draw in the second half only for Tyrone Fagan to slide in a decisive goal with Andy Gundelach finishing the scoring.

The win has now made it just one defeat from Valley's opening ten eleven games.

With confidence high after the cup exploits last weekend, manager Martin Sockett made just a solitary change with Luke Keen making his first start since signing for the club with Nick Heath dropping to the bench.

On a typically autumnal afternoon, the game started at a cracking pace with the visitors having the first sniff at goal - Gavin Hart seeing his effort going wide of the post.

The game really came alive with two goals in as many minutes as Rugby took the lead through striker Seb Hamilton only for Bedfont to quickly equalise.

In the fourth minute, a precise and accurate in-swinging cross from debutant Keen on the left found Hamilton who, in acres of space in the penalty area, rose highest to head in a goal from ten yards out.

However the celebrations were shortlived when Bedfont levelled the game when, after a poor clearance, midfielder Jon Barry-Bates hit a speculative volley into the corner of the net from twenty yards, leaving Valley goalkeeper Dave Clarke stranded.

With the electrifying start, the play calmed down with the midfield coming out on top, but Rugby took the lead for a second time midway through the half when the ever-energetic Keen got a deserved goal.

A free kick awarded to Rugby down the left was expertly crafted by Ben Steane whose delivery was pinpoint for Keen to glance his header past a helpless Gary Ross whose desperate efforts at clawing the ball away failed.

The visitors made a game of it though with Leon Jarnie forcing a save from Clarke but the visitors thought they had equalised for a second time when Jarnie's shot bounced on the line and not over it, much to their disappointment.

With five minutes left of the half, Bedfont got their goal as defender Ryan Lake took his time to pick out the top corner of Clarke's net from the edge of the area after a well-worked corner.

With the high energy of the first period, it was not a surprise the pace dropped off a little in the second half with chances becoming fewer for either side though Hamilton had the better option to cross when his shot hit the side netting on the hour mark.

Hamilton then skewed an effort wide after working himself into a good position after Bedfont substitute Kemo Maphela forced a routine save from Clarke.

With the game seemingly drifting towards a draw, Valley got the crucial goal.

Tyrone Fagan latched onto Hamilton's excellent through-ball with a well-timed run leaving the Bedfont defence floundering to slide the ball past the oncoming goalkeeper and into the net, much to the delight of the home fans.

Rugby sealed the points as substitute Andy Gundelach's speculative 25-yard volley in injury time was deflected into the net to keep Valley in the play-off hunt.

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

Bedfont Town: Ross, Ataro, Grant, O’Brien, Lake, Barry-Bates, Ochoa, Haule, Jarnie, Hart, Bates.