RUGBY Town completed the double over their local rivals Daventry Town after winning 3-1 at home on Tuesday evening to keep their Evostik NPL – South Division play-offs hopes alive, reports Jon Venner.
Rugby were looking to bounce back from Saturday’s disappointing 1-0 defeat away at Leek and despite Daventry’s recent woes, the visitors did put in a spirited and arguably better than expected showing in the circumstances.
They shocked an unchanged Valley starting line-up with an early opening goal before a Kevin Thornton strike and a David Kolodynski double earned the home side the three points.
Daventry’s surprise start came after a series of defensive misfortunes which saw Tom Ryan slip out wide allowing Ryan Archer to play in Edilson Panzo-Antonio, whose heavily deflected effort from the edge of the box deceived Sam Andrew and the Town keeper was just unable to grasp the ball as it squirmed across the line.
For the remainder of the first half it was all Rugby though, and Kolodynski and Rob Parker were soon registering on target efforts.
Matt Curley headed into the side netting, before Kolodynski and Callum Powell both struck the Daventry crossbar – with Kolodynski doing particularly well to cut inside his marker to smash one off the woodwork.
Kolodynski then had a back-heeled effort to the influential Mitch Piggon’s cross blocked in a crowded goalmouth, before the hosts were finally level on nineteen minutes after a great flowing move which was started deep in their own half by Curley and finished off by Thornton at close range, after Powell’s cross had picked him out.
Valley’s dominance continued up to the interval, with Steve Towers also having an effort smothered on the line and Thornton drawing a decent stop from Daventry keeper Justin Cerga, after he had played a neat one-two with Kolodynski.
Rugby created fewer clear cut chances after the restart, but still enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, and they edged themselves in front eleven minutes into the new period when Kolodynski converted from the spot after Piggon had been pulled back in the area.
Panzo-Antonio did fizz one wide of the target on the turn shortly after, but it was a rare moment of threat from the visitors, as Ryan headed over and Powell had a series of chances to extend Rugby’s lead further.
The third goal eventually came with eight minutes of normal time remaining when Powell’s pace and trickery saw him scoot across the byline before squaring the ball to give Kolodynski an easy tap in.
Parker and Powell both went close to adding to Town’s tally ahead of the final whistle, whilst Remy Brittain did fire one just over Andrew’s bar for Daventry.
