Football:
Promotion rivals prove too strong

Dunstable Town 3 Rugby Town 0

Southern League Division One Central

RUGBY’S impressive winning run came to an abrupt end on Saturday when falling to a comprehensive defeat against their promotion rivals.

Three first half goals won the match for Dunstable with Rugby not getting into the contest at all.

Town boss Dave Stringer made one change from the win against Uxbridge with Josh O’Grady starting in place of Greg Kazaboni who limped off injured in the warm up.

Dunstable breezed through last season as South Midland League champions and with a big budget have started this season well.

It took them just six minutes to go ahead on Saturday when Danny Murphy’s disputed free kick found the head of the unmarked Lee Roache who directed his downward header past Niall Cooper from ten-yards.

The lead was doubled six minutes later when the impressive Chris Marsh went round Ellis Myles and floated a great ball into the box which Adam Watkins latched on to score after Rugby failed to clear.

Valley’s first attempt on goal arrived in the 27th minute but Justin Marsden’s finish was a long way off-target and from the goal kick that followed, the hosts scored their third.

A long clearance from the keeper was flicked on by Tony Burnett and Roache picked up possession in plenty of space before giving Cooper no chance.

Marsh should have made it 4-0 before half time but the post came to the visitors’ rescue.

Stringer made a change at half time with Andrew Spencer coming on for the ineffective O’Grady, Mitchell Piggon was introduced later on.

It was the tall striker who had Rugby’s best chance of the game in the 70th minute but he saw his shot saved at point blank range by Head in the 70th minute.

With Town trying, but failing to get through a resolute home defence, Dunstable were happy just to try and keep the ball and with three goals scored in the first half were in no rush to add to them.

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