Tividale 4, Rugby Town 3

TIVIDALE secured their first win of the new season with a thrilling victory over Rugby at The Beeches tonight.

A goal crazy second half saw the visitors draw level on two occasions before a double from substitute Chris Sterling got Dale over the line for Ross Thorpe and Phil Male's first points of their tenure.

Rugby enjoyed more of the ball in the opening exchanges and it took a few nervy clearances from Tividale's back line to avert the danger.

However, it was Dale's ability to break with power and pace, especially through the ever- willing Demetri Brown, that proved the difference in the first half.

It was from one of those breaks that Tivi got their noses in front.

With only six minutes on the clock, left back Jason Chilton hooked a ball down the left flank for Brown to chase.

He took control and curled a shot-come-cross into the far post.

Only he'll know if he meant it, but Tivi didn't care.

The game then followed a similar pattern as the visitors continue to enjoy more possession without forcing goalkeeper Tom Turner into a save.

In fact, the Tivi defence, particularly Jesse Race, grew into the game as the half wore on.

Then, with 26 minutes on the clock, another quick break saw Brown in behind once more.

This time the forward was sent sprawling by Town keeper Scott Dutton as he burst into the box to win his side a penalty.

Ashley Jackson stepped up to double Dale's lead, which they kept until the break.

Tivi had to surrender the ball on occasion but they would have been pleased with how they limited Town to very few chances.

However, they couldn't say the same for the second half.

Within three minutes of the restart Rugby had pulled one back as Tom Ryan headed a simple ball to the back post across Turner and into the far corner.

Then Dale's shaky start to the second half got worse on 54 minutes as Tom Liversage levelled matters after lifting the ball neatly over Turner after meeting a ball from the right.

Rugby had started hitting early balls into the area and the Tivi defence was struggling to cope.

As the game approached the 70 minute mark it looked like Rugby would be the team to power ahead.

That was until forward Chris Sterling's instant impact from the bench.

The Tivi man was only on the pitch a matter of seconds when played in by his strike partner Brown, who had powered down the right wing.

Sterling kept his cool before scuffing an effort past the out-rushing Dutton.

The game entered the final ten minutes in crazy fashion.

As the contest reached the last ten minutes more goal action saw the game swing one way then the next.

Before the spectators at The Beeches could take breath, Tivi were pegged back then ahead once more, all with a minute.

First Rugby captain Steve Towers latched onto a loose ball on the end of the box before rifling past Turner to make it 3-3.

Then, straight from kick off, super sub Sterling pounced on a ball over the top before slotting past Dutton once more.

Tivi were ahead once more and this time would not surrender their lead.

The battled out the final stages to get their season finally up and running.

Tividale: Turner, Wright, Chilton, Hill, Race, Barnes, Jackson, Milligan (c), Brown (Wilson 89), Devlin (Sterling 69) O'Neill (Taylor 60).

Unused subs: Cox, Male.

Rugby: Dutton, Appleton, Kelly, Towers (c), Ryan (Rosser 85), Rowley, Clifton (Glascoe 65), Parker, Kolodynski, Liversage, Warburton (Powell 75).

Unused subs: Mills, Walker.