RUGBY ROMP TO UXBRIDGE WIN

Rugby Town brushed aside fellow play-off contenders Uxbridge at Butlin Road.

By JON VENNER Tweet

Photo: Martin Pulley

Rugby's Luke Keen, Luke Leahy & Richard Blythe celebrate as Rugby extend their lead in the second half at Butlin Road against Uxbridge.

Town bounced back well from two consecutive defeats with two goals in each half securing victory over the Reds.

Rugby were two up within the first twenty minutes and could easily have gone into the interval with an even bigger lead.

The visitors did threaten a little after the break, but two further Valley strikes in the final twenty minutes rounded off a highly satisfactory afternoon at Butlin Road.

With neither Gary Moran nor skipper Nik Preston fully fit to play, Alex Austin and Ross Miller both retained their places in the Rugby defence, and Luke Keen got the nod over Tyrone Fagan up-front.

Town were ahead within three minutes when Richie Allen’s inswinging corner went over the head of Uxbridge keeper John Peacock and over the line – with Richard Blythe also on-hand to add a finishing touch at the far post.

Allen claimed the goal though, and he nearly added a second himself shortly after – but blazed a good chance both over the crossbar and the astroturf-end stand instead.

Blythe did get on the scoresheet on nineteen minutes though, powering home Michael Williams’s pull back across the box following an incisive pass by Robbie Banks.

Peacock continued to struggle to deal with high deliveries, and Valley should have been three ahead when the keeper totally misjudged a free-kick from deep – allowing the ball to sail into the net.

However referee Colin Reeve ruled that Ed Booth had somehow impeded Peacock, when in reality the goalie had been done by a combination of the blustery wind, bright sunshine and a poor technique.

A good saving clearance by Miller late in the half preserved Rugby’s clean sheet just ahead of the interval.

The visitors had their best spell of the game after the restart, with captain Wayne Carter twice going close and Blythe doing well to block a shot from Michael Murray on the goal-line.

Rugby finally got back on their game though, and Williams fired a low effort just wide of the target, before the hosts finally made the match safe on 70 minutes when Luke Leahy’s free-kick picked out Keen – who turned well and fired home from distance with the goal of the game.

Williams went close again with another sweetly-struck shot, before a further Leahy set-piece created the fourth, with Allen helping on his corner to provide substitute Fagan with the chance to volley home on the turn.

The officials chalked off another Town effort late in the game, with Keen adjudged to be offside when he touched in Fagan’s header.

Valley Line-up: Bevan; Austin, Leahy, Miller, Booth; Banks, Williams, Allen, Blythe (Palmer); Keen, Hamilton (Fagan). Subs not used: Preston, Moran. Booked: None.

Uxbridge line-up: Peacock, Brown, Hall, Fitzgerald, Howell, Carter, Lynott, Lawrence, Murray, Nicke, Tomkins. Subs: Capewell, Hashi, Yarnie.