VS ease home and keep up pressure on leaders
VS ease home and
VS ease home and keep up pressure on leaders
VS Rugby...........................2 Waterlooville......................0
MARTIN NEEVES / Evening Telegraph
WELL-TO-DO VS Rugby kept their Beazer Homes Premier Division challenge on the boil with an uncomplicated victory over relegation-threatened Waterlooville at windswept Butlin Road.
A goal in each half was enough to give Rugby the spoils in a contest that did little to ease the wind-chill factor.
A happy Jimmy Knox was content in the knowledge that his side had maintained the pressure on leaders Bashley, who played two points clear after beating Gravesend 3-0.
The observing Rugby boss admitted: "We knew it was going to be a battle in such conditions, and I was pleased with the commitment shown by the side."
With the gale-like conditions at their backs in the first half, VS totally dominated, and the only surprise was that they only led by a single Mark Boyland strike at the break.
With the recalled Mark Rosegreen always prominent up front, Rugby carved a number of gilt-edged chances with Ian Crawley heading the best of them over the top in the second minute.
The goal that put them in front after 34 minutes was simplicity itself. Goalkeeper Mick Martin's free-kick reached Boyland, and he turned and fired past Robbie Stokes from 25 yards.
Rather than sit back and defend against the elements, Knox's upwardly-mobile troops continued to take the game to Waterlooville in the second half and Crawley headed just over from Boyland's cross.
Waterlooville twice went close with one-on-ones, but Martin denied both David Boyce and substitute Colin Ball before Rosegreen wrapped it up with six minutes left.
Gary Fitzpatrick's sweeping crossfield ball gave Tom McGicty space and Rosegreen acrobatically smashed home.
On the ball: Mark Rosegreen surges forward against Waterlooville at Butlin Road on Saturday