Football
Town prepare for crunch clashes

Buy photos » Michael Williams gets clear of his man at Bedfont on Saturday. Picture by Martin Pulley.

RUGBY Town’s hopes of securing a place in the end of season Southern League Division One Central play-offs face a huge test this week as they prepare to face two of the sides immediately above them in the table.

Forthcoming games against Uxbridge and Biggleswade could prove pivotal in their chase for a top five finish, especially after Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Bedfont saw them fall to eighth in the table.

With only 13 league games remaining, boss Dave Stringer will be hoping the poor display and result at Bedfont was a one-off.

In their remaining fixtures, Valley will face six of the current top seven - starting with the visit to Butlin Road of sixth placed Uxbridge on Saturday. A trip to The Waders (in fifth) on Tuesday evening follows, and Stringer will be looking to pick up at least four points from these two games to keep his side in the race.

Intriguingly, Rugby’s run-in also sees them up against all of the current bottom four in the division, including a home game next Saturday against neighbours Daventry - whose poor form has seen them slip perilously close to the relegation zone.

Town can now fully focus on their promotion push after their cup interests for the season were finally extinguished on Tuesday evening with a narrow 2-1 defeat at Chesham in the quarter-final of the League Cup.

Valley pushed the hosts - who are currently fifth in the Premier Division - all the way though, and in the circumstances Stringer may well be happy that the distraction and the extra games that progressing in the competition would have brought have now been eliminated.

Saturday’s visitors Uxbridge also come into the game on the back of a midweek defeat - an unexpected 4-0 reverse at struggling Leighton - meaning that they are still only a point ahead of Rugby, albeit with a game in hand.

Town are unbeaten in their three competitive games against Tuesday’s opponents Biggleswade, following the two draws between the teams last season with a 3-2 victory at Butlin Road in November - thanks to a winning goal to debutant that day Ross Miller.

Miller returned to the side at Chesham after a lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury, playing well in an unfamiliar central defensive role, although with Nik Preston and Luke Leahy both available again, and Gary Moran hopefully back to fitness after he was ruled out of both defeats over the last week, Stringer is likely to return to his regular back-four which had conceded only twice in the four games previously.

Stringer also faces a tough decision in attack with Luke Keen netting his 15th goal of the season against Chesham after also being recalled to the team in place of Tyrone Fagan.

Keen linked well with Hamilton throughout, although Fagan had been showing arguably his best form to-date in a Rugby shirt in the games before the cold snap put the season on-hold.

THE coach to Biggleswade on Tuesday will leave the clubhouse at 5pm. For information about availability of places contact Tony Mann on 07970 691366.

FORMER Valley player Mick McDonald, who made 56 first team appearances for the club between 1969 and 1974, has died suddenly from a heart attack February 16, just two days before what would have been his 65th birthday.

The very likeable and committed clubman was also manager of a successful VS Rugby reserve side, in addition to playing for Bradby Boys Club, the former Rugby Town and GEC Willans - before leaving the area to live in Northamptonshire.

Rugby-born Mick spent many years at Rugby Cement as a vehicle mechanic, before a change of career saw him become a very successful painter and decorator.

His funeral will take place at St. Maries’ Church, Dunchurch Road, Rugby on March 2 at 12Noon, followed by interment at Croop Hill Cemetery, Addison Road, Rugby.