TOWN MAKE HARD WORK OF FIRST HOME WIN

Rugby Town maintained their unbeaten start to the league season and also secured a first home win of the campaign against particularly poor opposition in North Greenford United.

By Jon Venner.

Photo: Martin Pulley

Joe Harris (left) & Seb Hamilton (right) celebrate Richard Wesley's opening goal against North Greenford

The noticeable gulf in quality between the two sides was not matched however by the margin of victory, and Rugby’s lack of a finishing touch meant that the result hung unnecessarily in the balance until the final whistle.

Martin Sockett made two changes to the side that had kicked-off the previous game against Beaconsfield, with Melvin Gourlay replacing the injured Nik Preston at the heart of Valley’s defence and Joe Harris preferred to Warwick Alexander up-front.

The hosts got off to a great start after just five minutes when Richard Wesley stabbed the ball home from close range after Harris’s shot on the turn had bounced back of the base of the post.

Seb Hamilton could have doubled the lead almost immediate, after Nick Heath’s cross had found him in space in the penalty area. However Town’s leading scorer took too long to set himself, and was closed down by a defender as a result.

Valley’s dominance continued throughout the first half. Hamilton’s low strike was taken well by Greenford keeper Sean Murphy, Ben Steane flashed a shot across the face of the goal and Hamilton again should have done better after Harris flicked-on Wesley’s cross from the left.

Then after 42 minutes, Harris was the one guilty of a poor end product – leaning back and skying his effort way over the bar, after Steane had played him in with a good through ball.

The visitors had offered little throughout the opening forty five minutes, with Gary Senior’s off-target header a rare attacking highlight.

The second period started in pretty much the same vein, with Hamilton shooting wide and then the same player’s head drawing a low stop from Murphy. Harris and Paddy Connolly also had headed chances, before United finally came out of their shell and mounted a series of attacks at the other end.

Senior’s looping header and Dave Lawrence’s low shot were the best of their opportunities – with Dave Clarke down well to keep out the latter, but generally Valley’s back-line dealt comfortably with any threat.

The introduction of Alexander sparked the home side back into life again, and the substitute blazed powerfully over the bar after Town’s best move of the game involving Connolly, Andy Gundelach and Wesley had seen them crisscross the pitch

Shortly after, Alexander did strike the back of the net though when he powered home from a tight angle after Connolly’s persistence on the left hand side of the box had seen him force the ball across at the second attempt.

Just when it looked like the game was finally safe, a nervy final ten minutes was set-up when Danny Phipps-Hall was penalised for handball just inside his own penalty area and Senior’s spot-kick just eluded the dive to the left of Dave Clarke.

However Clarke kept out Danny Tilbury’s low shot in the closing stages of the game, ensuring that Town got the three points their overall dominance had deserved.

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