RUGBY FIND IT HEAVY GOING AT CHERTSEY

Rugby Town were held to a draw against Chertsey Town on a heavy and bobbly pitch in Surrey.

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Photo: Martin Pulley

Midfielder Sam Youngs almost makes a breakthrough the Chertsey defence in the final moments of the game but the pitch got the better of him

Valley will feel it was two points dropped rather than a point gained despite a battling performance.

Despite Rugby producing many chances, the home side never gave up and produced a dogged defensive display on a bumpy pitch.

With confidence very high after their demolition of Guildford City last week, manager Dave Stringer made only the one change from that win with Craig Kelly returning from injury and Alex Gudger dropping to the bench after also starting the aborted League Cup game with Leamington.

After just one win from their opening seven games for the home side, Rugby were hoping for a fifth successive league win.

Town did make the brighter start with David Kolodynski shooting straight at the keeper from a tight angle.

Fellow striker Seb Lake-Gaskin did have the ball in the net for Town in the 21st minute, only to see his celebrations short-lived when the assistant referee deemed him to be in an offside position, much to the frustration of him and the fans behind the goal.

Just six minutes later, Kelly whipped over a cracking cross for Lake-Gaskin only for home keeper Justin Gray to intercept before he could get a touch.

Home striker Gavin Quintyre had their only chance in the first half after the half hour mark when his speculative overhead volley went wide.

Hat trick hero from last week Sam Youngs went closest for Rugby in a goalless first period when he hit the cross bar from close range.

The woodwork came to the rescue for the home side again in the 50th minute when Lake-Gaskin hit the bar again.

After this, Chertsey seemed to be exerting a little more pressure in the Rugby half, and Rob Carrick saw his effort fly over Dave Bevan’s goal.

Rugby though finally broke the deadlock on 68 minutes, when Kolodynski collected a cracking ball from Ellis Myles and from the edge of the area let fly with a sweet strike and his rising shot left Gray helpless.

Rugby now seemed to be in the ascendency and encouraged to finish the game off, but they were dealt a blow with just 15 minutes remaining when Jermiele Johnson produced an equalizer. His scuffed shot from the 18 yard box took a slight deflection to whizz past Bevan.

Despite a decent Sam Youngs volley which forced a great save from Gray just minutes later, Town could not find a winner.

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

Chertsey Town: Gray, Powell, Holley, Pomroy, McGarry, Johnston, Carr, Carrick, Frostick, Quintyre, Johnson.