FIVE ON THE BOUNCE FOR BUOYANT VALLEY

Rugby Town came from behind to secure a fifth straight win against a spirited Leighton Town at Bell Close to further boost their promotion push.

By Craig Webb Tweet

Photo: Martin Pulley

David Kolodynski got Rugby back in the game with a sensational long range lob

The game went ahead despite a heavy overnight frost, with a morning inspection seeing the pitch declared playable.

Valley manager Dave Stringer made one forced change to the team that had won at home to Fleet the previous weekend - with midfielder Richard Blythe coming in to start in place of the injured Sam Belcher.

The home side - who are struggling at the wrong end of the table - started brightly with Lewis McBride making an encouraging run down the right - evading a number of tackles, only to see his shot then go wide of the post.

Leighton took the lead after just thirteen minutes, when McBride was the provider with a cracking cross for Jerry Nash to score with a sweet strike from fifteen yards.

Despite going ahead the hosts continued to press with both ex-Valley man Leon Simpson and McBride blazing over.

Rugby though equalised on twenty minutes through the in-form striker David Kolodynski, who produced a cracking lob from Sam Youngs’ exquisite pass and his excellent effort hit the corner of the net leaving Sam Mazurak helpless.

Valley then took control of the game just eight minutes later when they edged ahead.

Kolodynski was causing havoc to the home defence, and his pass into the area found Youngs - who had the easiest of tap-ins after escaping his marker.

The second half produced very few opportunities for either side, with Rugby’s defence standing firm against anything that Leighton threw at them – and the home side eventually ran out of steam as the game drew to a close.

Rugby themselves did not create too many chances in that second period either, although Youngs did drill a shot way over from distance.

Kolodynski and his strike-partner Seb Lake-Gaskin also put efforts wide of the target.

At the other end, Leighton best two chances of getting back into the game came from set-pieces, but both Craig Masilj and Jake Bewley fluffed their free-kicks from very advantageous positions.

Despite a few other scares, the visiting defence held out for another valuable win – if not a pretty one.

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

Leighton line-up: Mazurak, Hassan, Bewley, Morean, Deaton, Bishop, McBride, Nash, Gallent, Morrison, Simpson.