Clinical leaders Shaw Lane punish Valley - The Rugby Observer

Clinical leaders Shaw Lane punish Valley

Rugby Editorial 8th Nov, 2016 Updated: 10th Nov, 2016   0

FOOTBALL: RUGBY Town’s poor run of results in the Evostik NPL – South Division continued last Saturday when they suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat to the league leaders on a bitterly cold afternoon in South Yorkshire.

The visitors had put in a decent enough shift in the first half before they conceded towards its conclusion.

However after the break the division’s top ranking side then went on to show their ruthless character with a clinical display to score four more times to hand Valley their worst league reverse since the opening day of last season.

Manager Gary Moran had tweaked his formation for the game by opening up with three central defenders, and also handed a first start on the left hand side to Danny Campbell in one of four changes from the midweek defeat at Loughborough.




Rugby went on to make a bright start, and Mason Rowley was soon heading wide an Aaron Moses-Garvey free-kick, whilst at the other end the hosts were underlining their potential danger with Ryan Qualter close to connecting to a swirling cross and Jake Beesley doing well to cut inside before sending his shot agonisingly wide of the top corner.

However the deadlock was broken by a superb curling effort from distance by Alex Byrne, although Town did get one further sniff at goal before the half-time whistle when Campbell fired high over the target following Mason Rowley’s initial cross from the right.


Buoyed by their first half strike, the home side underlined their promotion credentials with a penetrative second half display.

Louis Connor had already done well to deny opportunities for both Beesley and Gavin Allott, before midfielder Spencer Harris powerfully headed home a free-kick from the right to make it two on 53 minutes, with the same player soon adding a third with another strong finish from ten yards.

Chris Sterling then almost caught out Lane keeper Jon Stewart with a wind-assisted 45 yard volley which eventually landed on the roof of the net in a rare attacking highlight for Town.

Allott rounded off the scoring with late brace, as he first span in the area to create room for a neat strike, before bundling another one home from close range with seven minutes remaining.

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