Southern League – Central Division
Bedworth 1 Rugby 1
BANKHoliday Monday’s local derby at Bedworth’s refurbished Oval ground ultimately ended in deadlock, as Town picked up their first away point of the season after two previous defeats on the road.
Valley’s David Kolodynski had christened United’s brand new 3G astro pitch with a spectacular first half overhead strike, but for the second time in three days, Rugby could only hold onto a goal advantage for barely five minutes.
Jamie Towers started his first game of the campaign in place of Justin Marsden in the only change from the weekend, and Town started well with Seb Lake-Gaskin dragging an early chance wide of the post.
However it was the home side that went on to have the best of the opening period, with Daniel Dubidat striking the post and Alex Naughton somehow missing the target with a close range header at the far post.
Aaron Bains also squandered a great opportunity for the Greenbacks by wildly smashing the ball over the bar from a few yards out, before Kolodynski opened the scoring against one of his old clubs with a trademark acrobatic goal – after Towers had picked him out with a drilled cross.
Bedworth’s leveller came on 35 minutes after they counterattacked down Rugby’s left, with Naughton stooping to head home Dubidat’s well-delivered cross to the far post.
Alex Gudger’s rasping half volley from distance was saved by Bedworth keeper Denham Hinds just ahead of the end of a high tempo half.
If the hosts had shaded the first forty five, it was definitely Town that were the better side in the second, but they again lacked both the required cutting edge and incision in front of goal for their superiority to earn its just reward.
Kolodynski sent one wide from twenty yards after Richard Blythe had played him in shortly after the restart, before probably Valley’s best chance then went begging, when Blythe blazed over from a great position after neat skill by Kolodynski and a Lake-Gaskin blocked shot had left him with a relatively straightforward finish.
Dubidat did screw one wide after Mason Rowley had been caught out at the back, but on the whole Valley defended solidly throughout the half.
Further chances fell to both Kolodynski and Jepson in the final twenty minutes, with Rugby’s record scorer failing to convert Will Grocott’s ball into the box, and Jepson unable open his Town tally when he slipped while shooting into the side netting.
