GODALMING TOO STRONG
Valley’s inconsistent start to the new season continued at Butlin Road when they were outmuscled and ultimately outplayed by a powerful Godalming side.
By
Jon Venner
Photo:
Martin Pulley |
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Right back Ellis Myles tries to find a way through the Godalming defence as Rugby struggled to break down a resilient visiting defence |
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It was a game a few clear cut goalscoring opportunities for either side, but the visitors were clinical when theirs came along to maintain their 100% league record to that point.
Boss Dave Stringer made three changes to the side that started the previous game – a 4-1 defeat at Daventry – with Richie Allen in for the absent Richard Blythe, and Ed Booth and Michael Williams preferred to Alex Austin and Alex Gudger.
Godalming made an early statement of intent, when Johnnie Dyer met Darren Wheeler’s corner at the near post after just seven minutes – but his effort lacked the necessary power and was taken by Dave Bevan.
The hosts then had a series of half chances in which Michael Williams struck the side netting with his powerful shot, Fazel Koriya blazed high and wide of the target and Seb Hamilton stabbed one wide from a tight angle. However the Surrey side took the lead on 32 minutes when Dyer beat a hesitant Bevan to another Wheeler corner to flick his header home from close range.
Wheeler’s audacious effort from just inside the Rugby half almost caught Bevan off his line in the first main play of the second period, before the game’s defining moments came within a two minute period just after the hour mark.
First Rugby had their best chance of the entire game when Williams was denied by a good reaction save from Jake Somerville after he had played a neat one-two on the edge of the box with Seb Lake-Gaskin.
Then shortly after, Ed Booth failed to control the ball properly and it bounced of his thigh into the path of Ben Edwards, who went on to beat Bevan with a confident low finish.
Scott Harris nearly added to the Godalming total when he broke through the middle, but the ball would not sit up invitingly for him.
However the away side were soon three up when on 76 minutes substitute Jack Broome fired in a low shot from twenty five yards.
To their credit, Valley did not give up as they pushed for a late consolation - with Robbie Banks almost pouncing on a loose ball in the area, Tyrone Fagan heading straight at Somerville and Lake-Gaskin also volleying wide.
However they ultimately drew a blank in front of goal for the first time this season, with the visitors maintaining an unblemished record which meant they had not conceded a league goal for the fourth successive game.
Valley
Line-up: Bevan; Myles, Kelly, Miller,
Booth; Williams, Koriya (Ruff), Banks, Allen (Fagan); Lake-Gaskin,
Hamilton (Foster). Subs not used: Austin, Gudger. Booked: Ruff. |
