Valley reached the last sixteen stage of the League Cup competition after seeing off higher level opposition.
The visitors Redditch had taken the lead, but two classic David Kolodynski strikes and a well-taken Justin Marsden goal won the tie for Town – who more than held their own against a side currently sitting in fourth place in the league’s Premier Division.
Lewis McBride and Marsden both went close for Rugby in the opening exchanges, with McBride unleashing a decent shot after he had ghosted past his marker and Marsden then testing United keeper Bradley Catlow with a well-struck effort.
Despite this early promise, Town fell behind when Jamie Spencer tapped in from a few yards out after Leavi Oshungbure had crossed to the near post on fifteen minutes.
Valley were soon level though, with Kolodynski clipping the ball home from the angle after McBride had helped it into the penalty area.
Marsden then gave Rugby the lead when his low strike beat Catlow, with McBride once more providing the valuable assist at the end of flowing move from the hosts.
Redditch’s George Carline could have equalised before half-time, but he sent his shot from close range high over the bar.
The visitors had their best spell of the game immediately after the restart, with Ashley Sammons and Spencer sending efforts wide, so it was no surprise when Jermaine Hylton restored the game to a state of parity once more with a powerfully hit goal from twenty yards – which gave Richard Morris no chance.
Kolodynski then drew a good save from Catlow and substitute Lewis Rankin struck the post from the subsequent play, before Kolodynski sealed the victory after Alex Gudger's raking through-ball with a trademark lob over the keeper’s head with just five minutes of normal time remaining.
Valley line-up: Morris; Austin, Kelly, Rowley, Gudger; McBride, McBride, Banks (Youngs), Blythe (Rankin), Grocott; Kolodynski, Marsden. Subs not used: Smith, Bishop.
Redditch line-up: Catlow, Jones, Flanagan, Loveridge, Mutton, Scarr, Oshungbure, Sammons, Spencer, Hylton, Carline. |