SUPER SUB WILLIAMS KEEPS RUGBY IN THE HUNT

Rugby Town kept their play-off hopes alive with a much needed victory at Chalfont St Peter, but had to thank substitute Michael Williams who contributed with two late goals to seal the win.

By Craig Webb Tweet

Photo: Martin Pulley

Substitute Michael Williams made a game-changing contribution in the final five minutes with two excellent goals

Valley boss Dave Stringer only had one striker available in Seb Lake-Gaskin after injuries and suspensions, with defender Nik Preston reinstated to the starting line up with Ross Miller pushed further upfield.

With the hosts only four points behind Valley, they still harboured an outside chance of making the play offs, but this now seems very unlikely after this result.

Town made the brighter start with a half chance in the first minute. Miller couldn’t connect to a Lake-Gaskin flick on which was easily picked up by home keeper Mark Oliver.

Rugby had most of the possession early on and Lake-Gaskin had the best chance of the half in the 23rd minute when he collected the ball from 20 yards out and saw his cracking shot sail over the bar with Oliver off his line and beaten.

Chalfont barely threatened with only David Lawrence having a tame shot saved by Dave Bevan.

Rugby continued where they left off in the second half and the good partnership between Miller and Lake-Gaskin worked again when the former tagged onto a good pass from the striker but dragged his effort wide.

Both Luke Leahy and Richard Blythe had decent chances midway through the half before the game changed with twelve minutes to spare.

With the match heading towards another 0-0 draw, Stringer introduced Michael Williams who made an immediate impact.

Good work from Lake-Gaskin down the right, he crossed a super ball which was chested down by Leahy and Williams in space volleyed a bullet shot which rippled Oliver’s net - a superb goal from a player only on the pitch for 90 seconds.

With Chalfont not making any real effort to get back into the game, Rugby sealed it in the two minutes of injury time when Williams slotted home from a tight angle from Blythe’s accurate pass to cap a dramatic last ten minutes, when the previous eighty was a pretty dour affair.

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

Chalfont St Peter: Oliver, Brook-Smith, Cumber, Walsh, Okimo, Hedley, Sheehan, Leiws, Hughes, Lawrence, Mills..