VALLEY were back to their assured best on Tuesday evening in the Northern Premier League South Division after brushing aside high flying Coalville 2-0 at Butlin Road, reports Jon Venner.
A spectacular goal apiece from Rob Parker and Jonathan Thorpe sent the visitors back across the Leicestershire border empty handed, as Dale Belford’s side quickly moved on from the disappointment of Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at home to Stafford Rangers.
Belford made three changes to the side that had started against the league leaders, dropping both David Kolodynski and Kurtis Revan to the bench.
Rugby bossed the game from the start, and they could have easily been ahead as early as the second minute when Kevin Thornton fiercely volleyed just wide.
The hosts’ opening dominance continued, with Callum Powell putting one over the bar from the edge of the area and Thorpe also lifting the ball over the frame, after he had met Powell’s delivery to the back post.
The visitors were struggling to get going, although Lee Torr did put in one dangerous cross and a weak effort byJake Woolley was easily gathered by Sam Andrew.
Kolodynski’s replacement Mitchell Piggon then played Powell in, but away keeper Shaun Bowles did well to deny him, so it came as no surprise when Rugby finally took the lead on 33 minutes.
The quality of Parker’s finish from an angled position inside the box was to be admired, with the midfielder executing a controlled volley to Steve Towers’ cross past a helpless Bowles to record his first goal for the club.
The influential Piggon should have doubled Valley’s advantage shortly after, when he fired over from close range, although the half did end with a rare Coalville chance – which Aaron Hooton put wide.
However once Thorpe had provided the game with its second wonder strike – curling the ball into the top corner with the outside of his foot from distance, the win was pretty much in the bag for Town.
With new signing Nathaniel Kelly making a solid debut in the heart of the Valley defence, Andrew remained untroubled for the remainder of the match – aside from comfortably taking an 80th minute shot by Torr.
