VALLEY PREPARE FOR PLAY-OFFS WITH ROUTINE WIN

Rugby Town prepared for Tuesday's Play-off Semi Final with an ultimately routine win at mid-table Chalfont St Peter.

By CRAIG WEBB Tweet

Photo: Martin Pulley

Fazel Koriya celebrates his goal with the lively visiting Valley fans as Rugby won comfortably at Chalfont St Peter.

With Burnham easing to the league title with a win over Biggleswade, Beaconsfield ensured their play-off place and a visit to Butlin Road on Tuesday but only courtesy of Royston failing to win at AFC Hayes as Beaconsfield lost to Ashford on the day.

Despite a confirmed play off fixture on Tuesday, manager Dave Stringer fielded a full strength side with David Kolodynski returning after his wedding the week before.

The home side sprinted out of the blocks first with Valley keeper Dave Bevan having to be alert in the very first minute after a decent shot from Chalfont captain Daniel Hughes, and the striker followed this up just seven minutes later when he saw his shot go wide of the post.

However Rugby took the lead with their first effort of the game in the 13th minute with agoal from Seb Lake-Gaskin.

Kolodynski neatly flicked on to Lake-Gaskin who raced clear to slot home to register his 19th goal of the season.

Chalfont kept going to create chances with both Lucille Brook-Smith and Alan Hedley having shots at goal with the latter seeing his shot hitting the bar.

At the other end home keeper Michael Power-Simpson made a double block save from Kolodynski to prevent his side from going two down.

In the second half Rugby extended their lead with great individual goal from Fazel Koriya.

He seized on a poor backpass from Power-Simpson, took the ball towards the bye line, rounded the keeper to slot the ball home.

Rugby were now in control of the game with the back four holding firm restricting the home side to long range efforts, and creating numerous chances themselves but without scoring.

Substitute Michael Williams shot when the better option was to pass, and Sam Youngs saw his shot go agonisingly wide.

However in the fifth minute of injury time, Town were awarded a penalty when Kolodynski was upended in the area.

The striker duly scored, sending the keeper the wrong way.

The referee blew the final whistle just moments later and Rugby fans knowing that the season has been extended with the Play Off Semi Final against Beaconsfield SYCOB.

Valley Line-up: Bevan; Austin, Myles, Rowley (Wilson), Gudger; Koriya, McBride, Blythe (Palmer), Youngs; Lake-Gaskin (Williams), Kolodynski. Subs not used: Palmer. Booked: Kolodynski

Chalfont St Peter: Power-Simpson, Ghattoara, Ounimo, Paxton, Louth, Paine, Brook-Smith, Hedley, Fitzgerald, Atkins, Hughes.