STOPPAGE TIME TOWN TURNAROUND

Two goals in stoppage time secured Rugby Town a remarkable late turnaround to defeat high-flying Chalfont St Peter at Butlin Road.

By Jon Venner Tweet

Photo: Martin Pulley

Defender Ed Booth & first goalscorer Luke Keen celebrate Rugby's late equaliser before Seb Hamilton struck the winner even later.

On the back of their 4-3 League Cup success against Stourbridge four days earlier where 89th and 90th minute goals saw them progress through to the next round, Town left it even later this time against Chalfont – with Luke Keen and Seb Hamilton notching in added-on time.

The visitors had led for almost the entire match, after having taken the lead within ninety seconds, but a much improved second half performance from Rugby finally got its just rewards.

Valley boss Dave Stringer made two changes from the previous league fixture with Michael Williams replacing the injured Gary Moran at right-back, and Richard Wesley returning to the starting line-up on the left hand flank.

Town were caught napping early on when in the first attacking play of the game they were slow to close down Chris Mills, and the midfielder’s innocuous-looking low strike from twenty five yards left keeper Pete Smith motionless before nestling in the bottom corner of the net.

Saints could easily have added to their opener in the half an hour that followed, with Rugby lacking any invention or real intent to their game.

Derek Giane headed over from a dangerous position, Bedel Guei smashed one against the crossbar and Terrell Lewis broke through the Town defence before dragging his effort wide of the target.

The hosts finally launched some form of response in the closing ten minutes of the half, with Nik Preston seeing his header tipped over the bar by Chalfont keeper Connor Spanns, Ed Booth also heading over and then Spanns was bravely down at Ross Miller’s feet to deny him the chance of a shot.

It really should have been two-nil just before the half-time break though, when Charlie Strutton skipped around Smith in the penalty area – only to somehow blaze his effort over the now-open goal.

Fortunately Valley emerged after the interval a revitalised proposition and threw everything at their opponents.
Spanns was in fine form for Saints between the sticks though, and was soon in the action pulling off an excellent double save from Richard Wesley’s header to Richie Allen’s cross.

Luke Leahy’s low free-kick also tested Spanns, and Seb Lake-Gaskin lifted one over after a fast paced Town break ended with a whipped cross from Keen.

Keen should have done better when he headed straight at Spanns, and in a rare moment of uncertainty at the other end, Strutton also put one directly into the hands of Smith.

It seemed like time had run out for Rugby, with Lake-Gaskin and Keen both having two further opportunities each, but they either found Spanns in determined form or they sent their efforts off-target.

However from yet another Town corner – this time from Leahy – Keen nipped in at the near post to flick his header past Spanns with the ninety minutes already on the stopwatch.

Not satisfied with a point though, Valley continued to push forward in search of a victory.

A moment of ingenuity from Hamilton on 94 minutes led to the winner, with the second half substitute having the presence of mind to audaciously back-heel the ball over the line from close range, after Miller’s free-kick had created panic in a crowded goalmouth.

Valley line-up: Smith; Williams, Leahy, Preston, Booth; Allen, Miller, James (Fagan); Wesley (Hamilton), Lake-Gaskin; Keen. Sub not used: Steane, Wilson, Austin. Booked: Allen, Fagan.