RAMPANT VALLEY GET AMONGST THE GOALS

Rugby Town were finally back to winning ways last Saturday after four consecutive defeats, easing to what was ultimately a comfortable victory against their ten man opponents.

By Jon Venner.

Photo: Martin Pulley

Valley players celebrate Niki Preston's first half opener for Rugby against Uxbridge at Butlin Road

Three goals in a four minute second half burst sealed the points, after skipper Nik Preston had opened the scoring just before the interval.

The starting line-up showed two changes from the previous game with the departed Lee Parsons and the injured Tyrone Fagan replaced by Andy Gundelach and full debutant Claudiu Hoban.

Hoban put in an eye catching performance up-front alongside Seb Hamilton, displaying a wonderful touch and ability to skip past a player, and was a central figure in the bulk of Rugby’s attacking play.

Within a minute, Hamilton had headed Danny Hall’s cross wide of the target, and shortly after Hoban played in his strike partner – but Hamilton’s shot was again the wrong side of the upright.

Town’s spell of pressure continued, without really testing opposing keeper Michael Piwonski, although there were scares at the other end with Stuart Farrell and Andre Costa failing to capitalise when Uxbridge had beat the host’s offside trap.

Richard Wesley’s effort was deflected for a corner, and Paddy Connolly flicked Ben Steane’s cross just wide, before once more Uxbridge exposed Town through the middle, with Costa again unable to provide a finish.

After Hoban was once more taken out by a defender unable to cope with his trickery wide left, Steane’s free-kick was met by the head of Preston, who clipped it past the helpless Piwonski on the stroke of half-time to give Valley the lead.

Town’s fine form continued after the break, with Preston heading another chance over the bar and Wesley firing wide after Gundelach had executed a fine through ball.

Hamilton blazed through only to smash his effort into the side netting, before Uxbridge right-back Gary Brown was dismissed after being shown his second yellow card of the game – one of ten shown in total by the unimpressive match official.

Rugby pushed on in search of a second and Hoban almost secured it with a wonderful individual effort, skipping past four defenders before sending his shot just high of the target.

Uxbridge had yet to give up hope though – despite their numerical disadvantage – and their best chance of the game fell to Kevin Warner in the box, but he blazed the ball over the bar from close range instead.

A moment of pure genius from Steane on 71 minutes ended their resistance however, when the midfielder showed great awareness spotting Piwonski off his line before lifting it over his head and into the net from fully forty yards.

Two minutes later, Hamilton applied a close range finish to Connolly’s cross, and then a neat one-two between Wesley and Hoban saw the former stroke the ball past Piwonski for Valley’s fourth.

Hoban’s free-kick was then fingertipped over the bar by Piwonski and Connolly was another to find the side netting, as Rugby went looking for more.

Substitute Warwick Alexander thought he had grabbed a fifth, but his low header to Wesley’s free-kick was ruled offside.

Valley Line-up: Clarke; Moran (Edwards), Phipps-Hall, Preston, Heath; Steane (Alexander), Wesley, Gundelach, Connolly; Hoban, Hamilton (Simpson). Subs not used: Gourlay, Goodbody. Booked: None. Sent off: None.