Rugby Town V Stone Old Alleynians (FA cup)

​Rugby Town were looking to get a result yesterday in the FA cup to progress to the first qualifying round draw tomorrow. The Valley were up against MFL Premier side Stone Old Alleynians at Butlin Road and were looking to build on encouraging wins against Darlaston Town in the league and Wolverhampton Casuals in the FA cup.

Stone Old Alleynians had an excellent start to the season at step five with three consecutive wins in both the league and the FA cup. The Stoke side caused an upset in the previous round and beat NPL Midlands Division side Bedworth United alongside getting consecutive wins in the MFL Premier to start their league campaign. They were coming into this match with some momentum yesterday.

The set-up at Rugby Town is impressive with brilliant facilities and an inviting club house. The people around the club were friendly and helpful with any queries raised and the ground looked well equipped for the challenges of step four football. The programme on offer was also informative and well put together.  

The ground is well worth a visit for casual groundhoppers across the Midlands and can be reached by getting the train to Rugby and walking to the ground. Supporters can get off at the station and it’s a twenty-two-minute walk to Butlin Road. There’s plenty of opportunities to watch a match there with the NPL Midlands Division being revamped to include 22 teams this season.   

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Rugby Town featured Paul Hathaway starting in goal and Josh Thomas captaining the team from central defence. The formation appeared to be a 4-2-3-1 with Trey Charles playing up front as the main striker and being supported by Harrison Nee and Hilton Arthur on the wings.

There were three changes from the team that started against Corby Town in mid-week with Liam Francis coming into the team and playing in central defence.

The starting line up for Stone Old Alleynians included Raajan Gil starting in goal and Matt Thomas captaining the team from central defence. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Jack Tomlinson playing up front as the number nine and being supported by Sam Bowater and Kacper Mikulski on the wings.

There were two changes from the team that started against Wolverhampton Casuals in mid-week with Will Bailey coming into the team and playing in holding midfield alongside Ethan Vale. 

​First Half

The hosts got off to a nervy start inside the opening fifteen minutes which was understandable. The visitors settled into the match well in the early stages and were not overwhelmed by the occasion. The chances were fairly limited early on and both sides were growing into the match and working each other out.

The likes of Will Bailey and Ethan Vale helped the visitors settle into the match and offered Stone that composure on the ball from holding midfield. They linked up the play well and bought players into the game throughout the first half which gave them hope of causing an upset yesterday.  

There was a notable chance for the visitors in the 13th minute when a good ball from the right-hand side was crossed to the back post where Paul Hathaway struggled to claim it. The ball fell to Kacper Mikulski following a bit of chaos in the box and he struggled to connect with it for what would have been a surprise lead for the MFL side.

Rugby had that quality on the ball to create chances and leave the Stone defence stretched, and it was just a case of making it click in front of goal. They had an early chance in the 19th minute when Trey Charles made an encouraging run into the box before sending an effort wide.

​This was a sign of things to come with the hosts looking to work balls into the box under manager Carl Adams. Despite a shaky start to the match, Rugby were growing in confidence and managing to keep Stone Old Alleynians at bay.

Josh Thomas was brilliant at the back and was constantly heading long balls away to keep the pressure on the visitors who were struggling for an out ball at times. The hosts were nullifying the threat of Jack Tomlinson by winning a lot of first balls which helped them have a control of the match.

Rugby were positive on the ball and looking to make things happen in the final third. Barry Fitzharris played a ball over the top that found Harrison Nee who was free in the box. He made a good run before shooting straight at Raajan Gill. None the less, the chances for Rugby were coming and Stone Old Alleynians were looking to hold on and keep it goalless at the break.   

Rugby eventually found the breakthrough in the 40th minute when Dan Summerfield made a good run down the right-hand side before playing a low ball across the box to Harrison Nee who finished well into the bottom right corner to make it 1-0. It was a quality move from the hosts rather than any glaring mistake at the back from Stone.      

They had a chance to make it 2-0 just before half time when Trey Charles got into a good position in the box before playing a ball to Harrison Nee who hit the bar from close range.

It set up an intriguing second half with Rugby having a control of the match, but the visitors were not out of it.

Second Half

Rugby Town were in the ascendancy at the start of the second half. Substitute Tayo Tucker had a long-range shot tipped over the post by Raajan Gill.

​They made it 2-0 from a well delivered corner by Trey Charles that found Liam Francis at the front post who finished well in the 58th minute. This effectively sealed the match, and it was a long way back for the visitors.

Stone kept going though and they persevered in search of a way back into it. There was a notable chance for Jack Tomlinson who got into a promising position in the box before firing wide on the hour mark. Kacper Mikulski also looked a threat down the left-hand side and was beating a few players in the final third.   

Rugby Town were still creating some good chances in front of goal and a brilliant run off the shoulder by Ryan Sahota saw the midfielder go through one on one. He had a shot instinctively saved by Raajan Gill who managed to turn it around the post for a corner. The midfielder impressed yesterday for the hosts and stepped up when it mattered for the NPL side.  

Stone showed a lot of character throughout the second half to keep going and limit the damage by Rugby Town. Matt Thomas was reading the game well at the back and made some vital clearances to take the pressure off them.

The hosts got a third in the closing stages thanks to an error by the visitors following a free kick. A short free kick was played from midfield with a lot of players in the box which allowed Rugby a chance to catch them out on the break. They won the ball back and substitute Michael Taylor played a good ball that found Ryan Sahota who produced a composed finish to make it 3-0.

Not long after the referee blew for the full-time whistle with the step four side putting in a professional performance to reach the first qualifying round. Stone Old Alleynians competed admirably against a side from a league above and were ultimately undone by moments of quality by Rugby Town that made the difference in this match.               

FT score: Rugby Town 3-0 Stone Old Alleynians

Man of the match: Josh Thomas (Rugby Town)

Attendance: 206

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League