For the third year in a row, Town successfully navigated their way through a tricky Preliminary Round tie against lower level opposition to reach the next stage of the FA Cup.
Midland Football League Premier Westfields proved spirited opposition though, but it was the extra quality of Valley’s strike pairing of David Kolodynski and Seb Lake-Gaskin that made the difference on the day.
Kolodynski gave his side the lead shortly ahead of the interval with another impressive strike, before Lake-Gaskin finally made the game safe on 79 minutes.
The home side had started well, with Rugby keeper Joe Mellings twice pulling out fine saves – first to parry a Craig Jones free-kick and then later to tip a Tom Boyle effort over the bar.
Town responded with a Sam Youngs’ low shot which hit the post, and James Jepson also fired one wide from the angle – following a neat interchange with Kolodynski.
Next it was Mason Rowley’s turn to deny Westfields, when he headed Zac Sirrell’s lob over Mellings off the line, before Kolodynski ran onto Will Grocott’s through ball before perfectly lofting it over Matt Gwynne for the game’s opening goal on 41 minutes.
Kolodynski nearly doubled the lead before the half-time whistle, but this time Gwynne neatly kept out his strike with his feet, after Lake-Gaskin had slipped in his partner.
The second period opened with another good opportunity for Valley, but Lake-Gaskin could only apply a weak finish to a Jamie Towers’ cross to the far post.
The hosts pushed forward in numbers in an attempt to get back on level terms, but they came up against a resolute Rugby defence – with both Rowley and Alex Gudger in particular coping well with what came their way.
Westfields still did manage to generate chances though, with Jamie Cuss dragging a shot wide, Gudger clearing another effort from the line and Mellings comfortably gathering a low strike by Jones.
Having absorbed the pressure at the other end, the visitors then struck with the tie about to enter its final ten minutes - when Lake-Gaskin streaked clear from the halfway line before slotting past Gwynne for the second goal.
Kolodynski also had a shot blocked late on, with Grocott blazing the follow-up over the bar.
Valley line-up: Mellings; Simpson, Kelly, Rowley, Gudger; Towers (K Bishop), Jepson, Grocott, Youngs; Kolodynski, Lake-Gaskin (Marsden). Subs not used: Weale. Booked: K Bishop, Grocott.
Westfields line-up: M.Gwynne, S.Gwynne, Glover, Febery, Griffiths, Sirrell, Jones, Lee, Cuss, Boyle, Whittal-Williams. Subs: Brock, Winstone, Edwards, A Bendall, Pugh. |