FOOTBALL: RUGBY Town face a tough trio of matches with their struggle of a season continuing to see them fighting for their lives near the bottom of the Evostik NPL South Division table.
Valley begin a run of three matches against teams in the top six this Saturday at Basford, who sit just below the play-off zone, before facing AFC Rushden & Diamonds for a second successive Tuesday evening fixture.
Rugby’s draw and Loughborough Dynamo’s weekend win saw them swap places in the bottom two, but the league’s subsequent confirmation of Northwich’s ten point deduction has now parachuted the Cheshire club to the foot of the table – lifting Town back up to 21st again.
Valley travel to Northwich at the end of this month for what will be a crucial game in the relegation battle, but before that trip they will face another team challenging in the upper echelons of the division when second-placed Spalding come to Butlin Road a week on Saturday (21st).
Rugby defender Anthony Charles will miss all three upcoming games against current top six opposition, after he received a red card during the second half of the Chasetown game.
Striker Levi Rowley is also likely to miss out against Basford after he suffered an ankle injury during the eventful second half on Saturday, although David Kolodynski’s hamstring niggle which has hampered him over the past few weeks appears now to have improved.
Ryan Quinn became the 60th player to pull on a Valley shirt this season against Chasetown, after the midfielder joined the club from Leamington.
