RUGBY Town are back at home this Saturday when United Counties Premier strugglers Rothwell Corinthians visit Butlin Road.
Town returned from Lincolnshire last Saturday with another maximum return having seen off the challenge of Pinchbeck United.
An ill-tempered encounter saw Valley ease home by a 3-0 margin. It was a vital win for Carl Adams’s men as it increased the gap between them and Pinchbeck to five points.
Meanwhile, Daventry Town continued their fine form in coming from behind to snatch a 2-1 win at Peterborough Northern Star to maintain their nine-point advantage at the top over Rugby.
Saturday’s visitors Rothwell finally secured their first league victory of the season at the 13th attempt after a 6-2 triumph over Boston at the weekend.
The win lifted the Northamptonshire club off the bottom of the table on goal difference, although they still come to Butlin Road having amassed a paltry five points in the league so far.
Corinthians were formed in 1934 as a church youth are side and are not to be confused with the now-defunct Rothwell Town against whom Rugby competed in the Southern League in the 1990s and 2000s.
They were first promoted to United Counties Premier in 2008 and lasted three years before being relegated three years later.
They returned once more in 2015 and finished in 15th place in the division last time round.
Town’s win at Pinchbeck came courtesy of goals from Liam Francis, Lewis Rankin and Fazel Koriya against a home side reduced to ten men after half an hour when United defender Jack Smith was shown a red card for the third time in eight starts this season.
Pinchbeck manager Ian Dunn and coach Ash Murrell were also both dismissed from the dugout area after showing dissent to the match officials at different points of the game.
Rankin’s goal meant it was seven in eight league outings for him, whilst Koriya scored for the second weekend running in added time after entering the game as a second half substitute. Francis’s strike was his first in Town colours.
There was another clean sheet for Valley keeper Matt Hill, making it seven in 13 matches for the ex-Solihull and Leamington stopper.
Town have now conceded just three goals in the last 12 hours of league football and boast the meanest defence in the division overall.
Rugby will be without suspended Dom Perkins this Saturday, although midfielder Lewis Hayden is available after his one-match ban and is favourite to return in Perkins’ place in the starting line-up.
