FOOTBALL: VALLEY’S fine run of results continued at the Aspray Arena as Dave Stringer’s men saw off West Midlands Premier club Smethwick in the FA Vase, writes Jon Venner.
In the end, it was a relatively straightforward passage into the next round of the competition for Town, although their first half performance had been less convincing against a youthful Smethwick outfit.
However, Town still led 2-1 at the interval thanks to goals by Josh Ruff and David Kolodynski, before they stepped up a gear after the break to strike twice more.
Kolodynski and Ruben Wiggins-Thomas returned to spearhead Rugby’s attack, with Jamie Hall also back in the starting line-up in three changes from the League Cup victory over Coventry Sphinx.
Kolodynski was soon in the action setting up Aiden Print for a blocked shot, but it was Valley’s Lewis Gwilliams who was the busiest keeper in the early exchanges – keeping out one goalbound effort from Stuart Hillman after good interchange play by the hosts.
Ruff’s free-kick into the bottom corner of the net on eleven minutes gave Town the lead though, with the same player later nearly doubling the advantage with another set-piece which hit the crossbar.
At the other end, a combination of poor Smethwick finishing and some decent saves by Gwilliams kept Rugby ahead, with Hillman denied again on a couple of occasions and Colin Smith also out of luck in front of goal.
Wiggins-Thomas headed Hall’s teasing cross over, before Kolodynski grabbed Town’s second with a composed finish after James Dance had run with the ball from deep inside his own half.
Smethwick were then awarded a penalty after Hall pulled down Junior Rhydel in the box, but fortunately Hillman’s spot-kick struck the bar.
The hosts finally got due reward for their first half endeavours four minutes ahead the whistle when Ricky Hayer nodded home a free-kick.
A change in formation from Town saw them dominate the second period from the off
Sean Castleton’s searching long ball down the channel both picked out Print and also perplexed Smethwick keeper Shez Naseem, allowing the Rugby man a simple finish on 54 minutes to make it three.
Trey Brathwaite then released Wiggins-Thomas for the fourth on the hour mark, allowing Valley to ease down again safe in the knowledge that the victory was theirs.
Kolodynski had a late chance to cement the win further, but his header was saved by Naseem.
Picture: Martin Pulley.
