ONLY A POINT TO SHOW FROM WADERS TRIP

Valley recorded a third consecutive draw to start the season, this time away to Biggleswade Town in the Zamaretto Division One Central.

By Craig Webb.

Photo: Martin Pulley

Rugby Town centre half and captain Niki Preston was in the thick of the action with a goal and this overhead kick which tested the Biggleswade keeper

Niki Preston's coolly taken second-half opener was soon cancelled out by Paul Barnes' freak cross which ended up in the corner of the net for the home side.

Despite creating many chances throughout the game, a combination of good goalkeeping and poor finishing denied Valley all three points.

Manager Martin Sockett had to make one enforced change after the midweek draw against Woodford United, with Kieran Fitzharris making his first start of the season in place of the ill Danny Edmond.

The game started at a fast pace with both sides having chances within the first five minutes.

The home team had the first opportunity to open the scoring in the very first minute when Kevin Kilroy hit a swirling shot but goalkeeper Dave Clarke saved comfortably.

Seb Hamilton, who would have a plethora of opportunities throughout the game, dragged his first attempt on goal wide of the post after Ben Steane’s corner.

Rugby were having the better of the game for the first quarter, with Danny Hall finding Hamilton with an excellent ball, but the striker failing to capitalise while and Richard Wesley saw his shot saved by Dean Bull.

With these chances going begging there was a danger that the Waders would score against the run of play, and Paul Barnes, who was threat all afternoon, produced a speculative shot that was easily dealt with by Clarke.

Despite having several chances from set pieces including near misses from direct efforts by Wesley and Fitzharris, Rugby went into the half time break goal-less.

The home side were fired up in the opening sequences of the second half as they peppered Rugby’s penalty area with a succession of shots.

The best one came from from Barnes as he found a space in the area only to see his powerful effort superbly kept out by a finger tip save from Clarke.

As with the game against Woodford on Tuesday, Valley's goal led a charmed life from goalmouth scrambles as from the resulting corner, Barnes hit the cross bar and a combination of blocks and ricochets meant the ball could be cleared from danger.

Rugby composed themselves and managed to get a foothold on the game and they got the breakthrough in the 57th minute through centre back Nik Preston.

Striker Hamilton worked the ball well on the right hand side of the area before firing in a fantastic low cross across the six yard line leaving the unmarked Preston with a tap-in from close range.

The lead though only lasted four minutes when Biggleswade equalised with a goal from star striker Barnes.

Barnes' hopeful punt into the area from the left eluded everybody and the ball bounced into the far corner of the net leaving Clarke stranded.

With less than twenty minutes remaining both sides were going for the win with Steane and Hamilton having efforts from outside the area on target.

Barnes must have thought he was about to give Biggleswade the lead with fifteen minutes remaining as the ball landed at his feet in the area but full-back Hall made a terrific saving block.

Rugby were to have three golden opportunities to take all three points late on.

Firstly Hamilton found himself clear on goal having broken the Waders' offside trap but tapped the ball straight at the goalkeeper from close range.

Civzelis was presented with a similar opportunity when Steane found the midfielder at the back post but he fired his effort straight at the on-coming goalkeeper Bull.

Finally the ball broke to substitute Warwick Alexander in the dying embers of the game but he too could only find the arms of Bull with a weak shot from ten yards.

The drama did not end there with the home side reduced to 10 men when Stuart Lochhead was sent off for a tackle on Thomas.

Rugby will be rueing missed chances, to win their first game but are still undefeated going into the FA Cup game with Atherstone.

Valley Line-up: Clarke; Heath, Hall, Burgess, Preston; Steane, Civzelis, Connolly (Thomas), Wesley (Sockett); Fitzharris (Alexander), Hamilton. Subs not used: Charles. Booked: Fitzharris, Heath. Sent Off: None.

Biggleswade Town: Bull, Gatti, Radcliffe, Webster, Rush, Kilroy, Woolf, Lochhead, Barnes, Freshwater, Banks-Smith.