Football
Draw leaves boss disappointed

Buy photos » Rugby celebrate taking the lead against Woodford on Monday. Picture by Martin Pulley.

DESPITE a return of only two points from their three games over the holiday period, Rugby Town managed to end it where they started in tenth place in Southern League Division One Central.

Monday’s 3-3 draw at home to Woodford saw them go back up the place they had lost after their disappointing Boxing Day defeat at Bedworth - moving them ahead again of Barton, who they had also drawn with on New Year’s Eve.

Valley boss Dave Stringer was particularly disappointed at the minimal return from the Woodford game, after seeing his side twice surrender a two goal lead.

“The game was ours for the taking, but we’ve missed chances to make it totally safe and then lost our concentration at important periods of the second half,” he said.

“It’s a complete turnaround for us. We’ve gone from being the side that comes back late on to snatch victories and points, to the one on the receiving end.

“That’s all three games over Christmas where we’ve taken the lead and ended up with only two draws to our names. We will need to do better than that from here on in, if we have any aspirations to go higher in this division.

“Despite that we are still within touching distance of the play-offs, and generally our form has improved in the last couple of months, so I wouldn’t write us off just yet.”

Next up Valley face a trip to struggling Aylesbury, who go into Saturday’s game with just one draw and six defeats from their last seven league games.

Despite their stuttering Christmas, Rugby are still just six points off the final play-off place, with the Bedworth loss their only league defeat in six.

However, Stringer must have concerns defensively, with his side now having gone 22 games without a clean sheet - the last being in September at home to Slough.

Town are also in action on Tuesday when local rivals Daventry visit Butlin Road for a Southern League Cup third round tie.

Valley have made their way to this stage of the competition, after victories at Woodford and at home against Stourbridge, and in Daventry they will face another side whose league form is decidedly patchy at the moment.

Mark Kinsella’s side picked up just one point from their three games over the Christmas period and have just one win to their names in the last seven league fixtures.

Stringer welcomed back Ben Steane into the squad against Woodford on Monday after a period missing through illness, although he was without the injured Craig Reid.

Steane made an appearance as a second half substitute, as did Seb Lake-Gaskin who had pulled out of the starting line-up after feeling a tight hamstring.

THE club coach to Aylesbury will leave the clubhouse at 12noon. Contact Tony Mann on 07970 691366 for latest information regarding availability.

THERE will be a Quiz Night in the VS Bar on Monday, January 16 for teams of up to four people. Contact Barry on 01788 811471 for more information and to book your team a place in advance.