VALLEY SECURE CONVINCING BANBURY WIN

Rugby Town easily brushed aside their higher level opponents with an encouraging all-round performance in last Saturday’s pre-season friendly at Butlin Road.

By Jon Venner Tweet

Photo: Martin Pulley

Full back Alex Austin was in good form and his run set up Nic Evangelinos' goal in the second half.

Valley boss Dave Stringer gave starts to two triallists – central defender Jordan Fincher and midfielder Charlie Connor, before taking a first look at two further players – full-back Alex Gudger and another centre-half Mark Morris in the second half.

There were also appearances from the bench for Josh Ruff and Nic Evangelinos – both of whom had previously impressed in the midweek victory at Heather St.Johns.

The hosts took a while to get going though, with Banbury dominating the early exchanges.

United striker Ricky Johnson had already struck the crossbar, before Martin Hutchcox curled his free-kick past Dave Bevan on eight minutes – after Richard Blythe had needlessly fouled on the edge of the area.

However Rugby’s response was rapid, when just two minutes later Michael Williams broke down the right before slipping the ball inside to Seb Lake-Gaskin – whose low finish gave him his fourth goal of the warm-up campaign.

Town went ahead a further two minutes on following a fluid passage of play which culminated with Seb Hamilton picking out Williams with a great first time cross, and the winger applying another clinical low strike.

The visitors responded well, and Bevan pulled off a good reaction save, after Ade Talabi had got in behind the Valley defence. Johnson also volleyed wide, as Banbury looked for an equaliser.

Four minutes ahead of the interval, Town extended their lead however, after another neat interchange between Lake-Gaskin and Hamilton, saw the latter crisply shoot home from the edge of the box.

The second period was far less eventful, although Rugby again looked the superior outfit – with both sides making a number of changes to their personnel throughout the half.

Lake-Gaskin’s flashed cross across the face of the goalmouth was just cut out, and Evangelinos showed a nice touch before putting another ball into the box which narrowly missed its target.

At the other end Leam Howards went close with a volley.

Valley rounded off the scoring on 85 minutes when Ruff released Alex Austin, whose cross found Evangelinos – who capped a fine cameo performance with a first senior goal for the club.

Valley Line-up: Bevan; Austin, Kelly, Miller, Fincher; Williams, Banks, Blythe, Connor; Lake-Gaskin, Hamilton. Subs used: Booth, Allen, Evangelinos, Ruff, Foster, Gudger, Morris.

Banbury line-up: Finlay, Cray, O’Grady, Stacey, Hutchcox, Cole, Edmond, Polk, Johnson, Talabi, Robbins. Subs: Howards, Davis, Foster, Lorraine, Da Costa, Snelling.