Football
Rugby look to hit back at Rovers

Buy photos » Luke Keen was on target for Rugby in their defeat at Bedworth. Picture by Martin Pulley.

HAVING kicked off their festive campaign with a disappointing defeat at local rivals Bedworth, Rugby Town will be hoping for a better return from their two remaining games over the holiday period.

The 4-1 reverse saw Town slip one place to 11th in the Southern League Division One Midlands table, with their next opponents Barton Rovers moving above them on goal difference.

Valley travel to Rovers for a 3pm New Year’s Eve fixture before hosting Woodford on Bank Holiday Monday.

Despite their ninth loss of the campaign, Rugby are still within touching distance of the play-off zone, with just five points separating them and fifth placed Uxbridge.

However, with the top four of Slough, Bedworth, Beaconsfield and St. Neots threatening to breakaway from the rest of the pack, there could be an almighty scramble for the final spot, so Town will have show more consistency than they have to-date this season.

Valley boss Dave Stringer will be hoping for the first of these on Saturday at Sharpenhoe Road.

Town have drawn all three previous games in the Southern League with Barton, including a 1-1 result at Butlin Road earlier in the season - where Seb Hamilton was on target for Valley.

After an unsteady start to 2011-12, Rovers’ form has picked up well of late and they have recorded eight wins and three draws in their last 13 league fixtures.

Monday’s visitors Woodford are currently three places below Rugby and Stringer will be looking to complete a hat-trick of victories this season over the Northamptonshire side next Monday - after winning the reverse league fixture in August and also knocking them out of the Southern League Cup in November.

Games are usually tight affairs between the two sides though, with both league games last season ending in scoreless draws.

Town will be without the suspended Robbie Banks for the trip to Bedfordshire after the midfielder picked up his fifth booking of the season on his recent return to action from injury.

However, skipper Nik Preston will be back in the squad after sitting out the Bedworth game for the same one match ban.

THERE is a club coach travelling to Barton and it will leave the clubhouse at 12noon, with a prompt departure planned after the game. For latest information regarding availability, contact Tony Mann on 07970 691366.