SUPER SUB SEB SECURES SUCCESS

A late goal by substitute Seb Hamilton handed Rugby Town a much-needed victory against Barton Rovers at Sharpenhoe Road.

By Jon Venner Tweet

Hamilton atoned for missing an earlier sitter by striking in the final minute of normal time of a generally dour game to give Rugby only their second win of the league season to-date.

Valley’s weekend signing Mason Rowley made his debut in the heart of the defence instead of captain Ross Miller, with Tyrone Fagan also replacing Hamilton in the starting line-up.

The home side edged the first half, although the overall quality of the football on show was often poor.

In the opening exchanges, Town were troubled a number of times by the fast-breaking, direct style of the hosts – with the best chance falling to Nat Peacock, when he sent his rasping shot from the angle just over the bar.

Rugby came more into the game as the opening period progressed though, and after Michael Williams had caused problems down the right – Fazel Koriya, Seb Lake-Gaskin and Richie Allen all had successive shots blocked from around the edge of the penalty area.

Peacock then fashioned a good chance after he got in behind the Town back-line, but Bobby Dance just failed to get a touch to the cross.

Rhys Hoenes also headed Geoff Baffo’s deep cross onto the bar for Rovers.

Late in the half, Barton keeper Richard Wilmot pulled off a regulation save to Mason Rowley’s header to Craig Kelly’s corner.

Rugby started the second period brightly, with Lake-Gaskin putting a ferocious strike just over, Allen heading straight at Wilmot and then Lake-Gaskin going close again after he had clipped the ball past the keeper – only to be denied by a back-tracking defender.

Dave Bevan was at full stretch to divert James Bent’s free-kick away from the top corner in the only real moment of danger of the half for Town at the other end.

Wilmot saved again from Allen, before Hamilton spurned a golden opportunity with only minutes remaining in the game, sending his effort wide of the goal after Lake-Gaskin had played him in.

Just when the travelling Valley faithful thought the chances of a late victory had slipped through their hands, Lake-Gaskin set-up his strike partner again after some particularly sloppy Rovers’ defending, and this time Hamilton made no mistake with a good finish from eight yards out

Valley Line-up: Bevan; Myles, Kelly, Rowley, Booth; Williams, Koriya, Banks, Allen; Lake-Gaskin, Fagan (Hamilton). Subs not used: Gudger, Austin, Foster, Miller. Booked: Fagan, Myles, Allem, Lake-Gaskin.