Town 2nd XI stage second half fightback to earn a deserved share of the spoils

RUGBY AND EAST WARWICK 2ND XI 2 LOUGHBOROUGH TOWN 2ND XI 2

GAVIN Guest turned in a captain’s performance in winning Town a point away at Rugby.

The game started in an unfamiliar fashion with Town not conceding in the first few minutes. In fact it was the away side who asserted all the early pressure.

With Lad and France providing width and space, the midfield trio of Williamson, Parry and Vincent were able to move the ball with time and space. Early chances for Drury and Hargreaves were well saved by the home keeper. It was therefore surprising when Rugby took the lead, albeit with a bad stick tackle by Williamson which gave the home side a penalty corner. The resulting flick whizzed past a ducking Dhutia in goal.

With Williamson sent off, the away side were under more sustained pressure having to soak up Rugby’s more comfortable passage of play.

Unfortunately, with Williamson’s return to the pitch, another poor tackle led to Rugby nearly taking the lead. Fortunately, Dhutia was up to the task this time, saving the resulting penalty corner.

For the final few minutes of the half, Town were back to 10 men after some petulant behaviour from Hargreaves.

With some stern words from Guest and Lamb at half time, Town players knew they had to step up to the mark.

A much improved second half performance from Williamson coupled with some excellent defensive cover from Kenny-Herbert restricted Rugby to very few attacks.

Having dribbled past both the last defender and goalkeeper Guest was able to flick in to the roof of the net to start the fight back. Unfortunately, a defensive error from Paxton led to Rugby grabbing the lead in a break away.

From the restart, Guest carried the ball in to the Rugby 23 metre area drawing in a stick tackle.

A quick one two between Guest and Williamson allowed the latter to fire in to an empty net. With the game ending 2-2 the away side were unfortunate not to take all three points.

Next week Loughborough welcome National League club Olton and West Warwick.