A 60th minute Tom Berwick penalty settled a typical local derby on Tuesday evening, ending Valley’s run of four consecutive wins at Butlin Road against their neighbours Daventry.

Whilst the game was played at a high tempo, it generally lacked any real quality, with the visitors the superior outfit in the first half and Rugby arguably deserving of an equaliser for their endeavours in the half an hour that followed Berwick’s strike from the spot.

For all their early dominance, Valley’s new keeper Nick Bennion was rarely extended, although he was down well to touch a decent strike from Mitchell Piggon onto the base of his post after eight minutes.

Later in the half, Piggon also volleyed one over, with Daventry’s other main chances falling to midfielder Ryan Howell with a couple of headers at the far post, but each time he failed to apply a telling contact.

The hosts were struggling to get time on the ball and subsequently penetrate a solid looking Daventry back-line, with their best opportunities generally coming from distance.

Keeper Ben Heath gathered one such long ranger from David Kolodynski at the second attempt, with Seb Lake-Gaskin also fizzing a low shot just wide of the post.

Kolodynski’s dangerous cross just after half-time was cut out by Heath, before the game’s decisive moment came when Marcel Simpson was harshly adjudged to have taken Berwick out by the byline and Berwick picked himself up to stroke the penalty past Bennion.

From then on, Rugby upped their game and as a result looked more purposeful and threatening in their approach.

Ben George had a shot blocked and Lake-Gaskin sent one straight at Heath, before the home side’s best chance saw Lake-Gaskin speed past a number of defenders and then steady himself to fire his effort agonisingly the wrong side of the upright.

Kolodynski then appeared to be bundled down by Daventry skipper Ollie Wilkinson just inside the box, but with referee Lisa Rashid not up with play and her assistant unmoved by Rugby’s appeals, there was no opportunity to even up matters.

Valley’s continued to search for a leveller though, with Heath smothering an acrobatic effort from Kolodynski from close quarters after Kyle Bishop’s initial shot had been blocked.

Both Sam Youngs and Justin Marsden had wayward shots over the bar, before a final late chance saw Mason Rowley tamely head a Youngs’ corner into Heath’s arms.

Valley line-up: Bennion; Simpson, Kelly, Rowley, Gudger; George (K Bishop), Jepson (Marsden), Grocott, Youngs; Lake-Gaskin, Kolodynski. Subs not used: Austin, Mellings, Weale. Booked: Jepson.

Daventry line-up: Heath, Deeney, Wilkinson, Haines, Hutchcox, Deacon, Fitzgerald, Howell, Piggon, Berwick, O’Grady. Subs: Calvin, Angus, Power, Keen, Morris.

Courtesy of Rugby Town Website

Daventry Town Football Club

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