ICY BREAK NO HELP TO RUGBY

Rugby Town returned to league action after three weeks and fell to a disappointing display at The Orchard against mid-table Bedfont, to leave them four points adrift of the play off places.

By Craig Webb Tweet

Photo: Martin Pulley

Versatile Valley player Michael Williams tries to get the ball under control at a rain-soaked Bedfont

After wins, in friendlies and decent form in the league, Town were confident that they would come away from this with a win, but an improved Bedfont team swept Town away particularly in the second half.

Defender Gary Moran missed the game through injury replaced by Alex Austin.

With the planes roaring overhead landing at Heathrow, Rugby got off to a flying start themselves and nearly took the lead after just four minutes, when amidst a scramble in the Bedfont penalty box, no one could connect to Richie Allen’s pass.

Striker Tyrone Fagan benefited from a cracking Luke Leahy pass to send a header towards goal only to see it saved by Gary Ross in the home goal.

After fifteen minutes, the hosts came into the game, Tommy Brewer managed to run unchallenged into the area before unleashing a shot only see it go wide.

With end to end action, without seeing a serious challenge on goal, it was Bedfont who got their noses in front in the 37th minute when the impressive Shawn Lucien received accurate ball in the centre of midfield, goalkeeper Dave Bevan hesitated on whether to come out or stay on his line,

Lucien capitalised on the indecision to roll the ball past the helpless keeper.

Despite the setback Rugby equalized with the last kick of the half.

Fagan received the ball on the right, and crossed a precise pass to an unmarked Richard Blythe at the far post to tap in from two yards.

Bedfont seemed like a different side in the second period. They took the lead through a rasping effort from Arron Clarke.

Clarke who led the midfield with a dominant display collected a Reis Stanislaus delivery from about twenty yards out to unleash a shot past Bevan.

After the goal, Bedfont took control of the game, with substitute Byron Bubb clipping the post from a speculative shot, and it was no surprise they further extended their lead when Wayne O’Sullivan scored a brilliant individual goal ghosting past a static Rugby defence and rolling the ball over the line. 

Just a couple minutes later, they nearly scored again only to see Lucien's great solo run ending to see his effort go wide.
Rugby had very few chances, substitute Luke Keen having a couple of chances go wide and forcing a decent save from Ross, but this was not to be Rugby’s day as they saw their wings clipped in the shadow of busiest airport in the world.

Valley Line-up: Bevan; Austin, Leahy, Preston, Booth; Banks (Keen), Williams, Blythe, Allen; Hamilton, Fagan (Gundelach). Subs not used: Steane, Palmer. Booked: Blythe, Allen.

Bedfont: Ross, Brewer, Jacobs, Clarke, Walters, O’Brien, Lucien, Ranger, Scott, Stanislaus, O’Sullivan.