DOUBLE AT DOUBLE SHATTERS GLASSBOYS

Two goals in the last minute capped a tremendous fightback from Rugby - after being 3-1 down at one stage - to seal a tremendous win over FA Cup giantkillers Stourbridge.

By Craig Webb Tweet

Photo: Martin Pulley

Rugby Town striker Luke Keen fires in a dramatic winner in the last minute to cap a superb comeback.

Manager Dave Stringer made two changes from the side that lost to Beaconsfield, which saw Ben Steane and Michael Williams return the starting line up, with the available-again Richard Wesley on the bench.

Town had the first effort on goal with just under ten minutes gone, when Seb Lake-Gaskin forced the visiting keeper John Bateman into a point blank save after a good cross from Ross Miller.

Despite the good start, the visitors took the lead with a quarter of an hour gone when Linden Dovey found Aaron Ward in acres of space, and he coolly slotted a crisp shot beyond Pete Smith.

Stourbridge doubled their lead on the half hour mark after the Rugby defence failed to clear the ball properly and it found its way to John Griffin and - with the help of his chest - he bundled the ball over the line.

Valley were finding it hard to get into a rhythm although Luke Keen had a shot easily saved by Bateman.

Town though did find a goal just before half time when the impressive Lake-Gaskin collected a cracking ball from Keen and with the simplest of touches placed his effort beyond Bateman.

Stourbridge came out the stronger side in the second half, and further increased their lead on 57 minutes when Griffin claimed his second goal. He was easily allowed space in the danger area and struck a shot which Smith could not handle.

With game now seemingly lost, the hosts did not give up though, and to their credit reduced the deficit when Keen struck from ten yards out when Lake-Gaskin floated over a cross on the by-line.

Rugby were clearly out for the equaliser, with Lake-Gaskin seeing a couple of efforts going to waste and Richie Allen forcing Bateman to produce a finger tip save from his shot.

Valley produced a deserved equaliser in the 89th minute through captain Nik Preston.

He rose highest from a corner to score for the second game on the trot to seemingly send the match into extra time.

However Keen produced a cracking goal in the last minute, when he swivelled well in the penalty area, evaded a couple of defenders and with power produced a cracking shot beyond Bateman to send the home fans wild.

Valley line-up: Smith; Moran (Wilson), Booth, Preston; James, Williams, Miller (Wesley), Steane, Allen; Keen, Lake–Gaskin. Subs not used: Austin, Da Costa.

Stourbridge line-up: Bateman, Plinston, Lloyd, Blair, Geddes, Paskin, Ward, Dovey, Griffin, Dyson, Drake.