HEY PRESTO! AS NIK SECURES DERBY VICTORY

Skipper Nik Preston's goal settled a tight local derby against third placed Bedworth United to round off a perfect Easter weekend for Rugby Town.

By Jon Venner Tweet

Photo: Martin Pulley

Captain Niki Preston got the only goal of the game five minutes before half time

Preston's fortieth minute strike was just reward for a determined performance from Valley, which keeps them in the hunt for a play-off spot.

Tyrone Fagan returned to the side in attack, with Ross Miller returning to a central defensive berth alongside Preston in place of the injured Ed Booth.

After a competitive start to the game, Richie Allen lifted a free-kick over the crossbar after ten minutes, although the visitors went closer shortly after when Dave Bevan did well to palm over Ashley Spencer's curling effort from the edge of the box.

Greenbacks' bulky defender Ian Roper also twice went close, before he gave away the corner that led to the crucial goal at the other end with a sliced clearance that flew just wide of the target.

Allen's set-piece delivery was met at the near post by Seb Lake-Gaskin, and his header came back off the woodwork, before Preston rammed home the rebound from a couple of yards out.

Town could have added a second just before the interval, when Lake-Gaskin got in behind the Bedworth back-line, and after sidestepping keeper Tom Cross, he was then denied by a saving tackle by Roper.

Rugby started the second period well, and Lake-Gaskin had two good efforts in opening five minutes of the half. Roper powered another header just over, before Robbie Banks broke at pace down the middle, skipping past Cross – before becoming the second player to be denied by a last gasp defensive challenge, this time from ex-Valley man Chris Tullin.

Bedworth generally struggled to penetrate a resolute Town defence during the second half.

In fact it was the hosts that looked the more likely to score again – with substitute Michael Williams almost matching his exploits from the previous game, when Cross did well to keep out his shot with a low save in the closing minutes.

Valley Line-up: Bevan; Moran, Milligan, Miller, Preston; Banks, Leahy, Blythe, Allen (Williams); Lake-Gaskin (Keen), Fagan. Subs not used: Wilson, Austin, Palmer. Booked: Allen.

Bedworth United: Cross, Recci, Wesley, Tullin, Roper, Baxter, Dean, Ashley Spencer, Robinson, Piggon, Andrew Spencer. Subs: Corbett, Greenway, Brehon, Cartwright, Brassington.