Football
Boss pleased by ‘dominant’ display

Buy photos » Robbie Banks beats his man on Tuesday night before the lights went out. Picture by Martin Pulley.

WHILST Rugby Town’s progress in the Southern League Cup was put on hold due to a floodlight failure on Tuesday night, Saturday’s comfortable win at Aylesbury did at least provide their league campaign with a valuable boost.

Rugby and Daventry will meet again at Butlin Road in the rearranged cup tie on Tuesday, but ahead of that Valley host another team in the bottom half of Southern League Division One Midlands when Leighton are the visitors on Saturday.

Town recorded their first clean sheet in 23 games during Saturday’s 3-0 success against Aylesbury leaving boss Dave Stringer to praise his side’s performance on the day.

“We pretty much dominated the game. Once we got used to the conditions and had the wind at our backs in the second half, it was only going to go one way,” he said.

“We took our chances well, but it could easily have been double that score. They troubled us very little and hopefully we can take that form into Saturday’s game.”

Leighton’s performances have improved recently after an indifferent run had seen them drop dangerously close to the relegation zone.

They head into Saturday’s contest on the back of three straight league victories - the most recent of which was a 1-0 home success over Daventry at the weekend.

With the familiar and significant frame of ex-Town striker Leon Simpson likely to be in their starting line-up, the visitors will be looking to avenge the defeat against Rugby in the reverse fixture last August when goals from Richard Wesley and Melvin Gourlay secured all three points for Valley in Bedfordshire.

Coincidentally, both goalscorers have been in the news recently with Gourlay likely to re-sign for the club after he originally left in November to join Premier Division Evesham - where he found opportunities limited - and Wesley ending his second spell at Butlin Road last week, making the short move to Bedworth United instead.

Stringer will again be without Luke Leahy for the Leighton game, with the youngster’s broken rib ruling him out for the foreseeable future.

Ross Miller is also doubtful due to his ankle injury but Seb Hamilton should return after missing the Daventry clash.

THE club have yet to announce the admission policy for the rearranged Daventry game. Details will be posted on www.rugbytownfc.com when available.