VALLEY KEEN TO PROGRESS IN LEAGUE CUP

In-form Valley brushed aside old foes Yeltz at the Grove on Tuesday evening thanks to a hat-trick from striker Luke Keen.

By Jon Venner.

Photo: Martin Pulley

Rugby Town striker Luke Keen was on target with a hat-trick in only his second start for Valley

Rugby dominated the game and looked comfortable and assured victors against their Zamaretto Premier opposition.

Martin Sockett rang the changes from the weekend league victory over Bedfont, bringing Craig Goodbody, Chris Charles, Chad Sheppard, Andy Gundelach, Nick Heath and Warwick Alexander into his starting line-up.

Meanwhile Halesowen largely stuck to the side that had ended a long losing streak in the superior division in their previous game.

However it was Rugby that made the more assured start, with Nik Preston's shot deflected just wide, after the defender had made space for himself on the edge of the penalty area.

Valley took the lead on 25 minutes when Heath showed good vision in the midfield to release Keen, and the forward cut in nicely before slotting home into the far corner.

The hosts responded when James Williams curled a free-kick low to Dave Clarke's left, which the visiting keeper did well to scramble across his line and push away.

Rugby extended their advantage when Heath, Gundelach and Sheppard combined neatly before the latter played Keen in again, and with the home side slow to close him down, Keen once more bore down on goal and finished this off with another clinical strike.

Halesowen went into the interval with some hope though when Connor Gater lifted his free-kick over the Valley wall, out of the reach of Clarke and into the top of the net.

Keen had a chance just before half time to secure his hat-trick when he was through on goal again, but appeared to be taken out by a Halesowen defender as he shaped to shoot. Unfortunately the referee waved play on, and the opportunity was lost.

After half time, Alexander's header was then blocked after Goodbody's cross had picked him out, as Rugby continued to dominate both in terms of possession and territory.

On the hour mark, Charles did well to make up ground on Lee Osborne and deny him with a well-timed tackle, before Alexander saw another on-target effort blocked.

The victory was all but sealed in the 71st minute when Danny Phipps-Hall's surging run from the halfway line was finally - and illegally - halted in the penalty area by Anthony Bruce.

Keen stepped up to take the spot-kick and sent Dean Coleman the wrong way to complete his treble.

At the other end, Hall blocked Osbourne's shot and Michael Nardiello also flashed an effort across the face of the goal, but it was too little too late for the home side, and Valley extended their run of cup game wins to four to progress to the next round of another competition.

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