VALLEY
ESPACE WITH BEDFONT POINT
Rugby
Town stuttered to a draw against lowly Bedfont
Town at Butlin Road.
By
Jon Venner
Photo:
Martin Pulley |
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Debutant
midfielder Harry Harris
struck early in the second half to salvage
a point for Rugby against Bedfont |
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A
second half goal on his debut by Harry Harris
salvaged Valley a point from another stuttering
performance at Butlin Road against a Bedfont side
with just one league win to their name so far
this season.
Rugby
had ridden their luck in the first half and they
were fortunate to go into the break just a goal
down.
The
introduction of Seb Hamilton seven minutes into
the second period did spark a temporary revival
though, during which time Harris struck.
However
it was the visitors that ended the game in the
ascendancy once more, with home keeper Louis Connor
pulling off a series of excellent stops to secure
his side a draw.
Town
boss Dave Stringer opted to start the game with
a more conventional 4-4-2 formation, replacing
Dominic Reece and Hamilton with debutant Harris
and the recalled Andy Gundelach – who occupied
an unfamiliar full-back position.
Early on Bedfont's Dwain Williams struck the base
of the post, and then the same player saw his
header touched just over the bar by the fingertips
of Connor – as the away team set the early
pace.
Sol
Pinnock’s chip over Connor's head from thirty
plus yards out clipped the top of the bar, and
Lee Scott’s flick bounced just over the
goal – as Bedfont continued to look the
most likely to break the deadlock.
Pinnock
repeated his feat from long range on 35 minutes
- cleverly spotting Connor off his line once more
– and this time the ball dipped at the right
time to hit the back of the net.
Further
chances followed for a rampant Bedfont, with Wayne
O'Sullivan and Scott both going close towards
the end of a first half which rarely saw Valley
threaten – apart from a Richard Wesley effort
which he blazed way off the target, after Gary
Moran had released him with a neat flick-on.
Hamilton’s
entrance to the game on 52 minutes finally saw
some drive and momentum to Rugby’s game,
and after a Moran ball into the box, the ball
then fell invitingly to allow Harris to power
his half volley into the roof of the net.
Shortly
after the equaliser, Moran almost seized on a
loose ball in the box, and then Hamilton tested
Garry Ross with a rising shot, after Luke Keen
had created the opportunity for him.
Connor
was down well at the feet of O'Sullivan, before
Keen dragged a ball dangerously across the face
of Ross's goal.
Connor’s
excellent reflex save from Dwain Williams was
followed by an equally admirable one-handed low
parry to O'Sullivan's strike, before another one-on-one
chance for Bedfont was blocked by Connor –
with Pinnock this time the player to be denied.
Steane's
through ball late on nearly picked out substitute
Adam Khan, but Dan Carter’s well-timed interception
ensured the visitors at least claimed some reward
for their valiant efforts.
Valley
line-up: Connor; Moran, Gundelach (Hamilton),
Preston, Gourlay; Banks, Wesley, Steane, Harris,
Fagan (Khan), Keen. Subs not used:
Isherwood, Cayless, Leahy.
Booked: Harris.
Bedfont
line-up: Ross, Cooper, Carter, O’Brien,
Goode, Brewer, D.Williams, T.Williams, Scott,
Pinnock, O'Sullivan. Subs: Barrie-Bates,
Garner, Thomas, King, Gallagher.
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