COMFORTABLE VALLEY MOVE UP TO THIRD

Rugby Town completed their second double of the season, seeing off North Greenford United in comfortable fashion to move up to third in the table.

By Craig Webb.

Photo: Martin Pulley

Tyrone Fagan smashes in his eighth goal of the season to effectively seal the points at North Greenford

Valley now lead a pack of teams chasing down Hitchin and Arlesey at the top of the table after this fourth successive win in Middlesex.

On a poor bobbly pitch which was difficult to play on, Town came through the match having done enough without exceeding too much energy against their struggling opponents.

Preparations did not go to plan at the start when captain Niki Preston was forced to pull out of the game in the warm up after hurting his hamstring, so manager Martin Sockett started with Craig Goodbody, Danny Phipps-Hall and the returning Melvin Gourlay in an unfamiliar backline.

On a pitch covered with patches of sand the football was never too silky smooth and it was no surprise that Rugby’s first goal came from a set piece.

As against Ashford Town on Tuesday, it was another perfect start for Town.

Richard Wesley lofted in superb corner to the far post and an unmarked Gourlay directed his header from close range into the net past the hapless Gary Jallow in the home goal.

In a first half which was short on quality the hosts only had two weak efforts on goal, both headers from Garry Senior and Charlie Hill and saved comfortably by Dave Clarke.

The second half was much better and the general consensus was another goal for Rugby might finish off Greenford.

The away fans only had to wait until the 53rd minute for them to double their lead when striker Tyrone Fagan scored his 8th goal of the season.

The move leading up to the goal was Rugby's best of the game. Luke Keen from 25 yards out found Gary Moran on the right and the defender put in a cracking ball for Fagan in the area and on the turn unleashed a shot past Jallow to cement Rugby’s authority on the game.

Just a minute later, fellow striker Keen forced a fingertip save from the home keeper.

A third goal would have sealed it for Rugby, but Fagan missed an opportunity when with just Jallow to beat he put his effort wide of the post.

With North Greenford hovering around the relegation area, they rarely troubled Rugby with Moran halting the runs of lively left winger Andre Delisser.

A comfortable victory for Town, building up confidence for the big game with Hitchin.

Valley Line-up: Clarke; Goodbody, Phipps-Hall, Gourlay; Moran, Wesley, Steane, Connolly, Parsons; Fagan (Alexander), Keen (Fitzharris). Subs not used: None. Booked: None. Sent Off: None.

North Greenford : Jallow, Hillier, Fenton, Turner, Diston, Patterson, DeLisser, Bennett, Senior, Hill, Lavers.