LUFFS 1 RUGBY TOWN 0 (23/03/02) @ The Drome Loughborough registered their best win of the season on Saturday beating the runaway league leaders Rugby Town and thereby throwing a possible spanner in the promotion places. Just the one goal did it, but this was no smash and grab raid by "The Luffs" it was a deserved victory and indeed could have been more clear cut if all chances had been taken. This was a classic win based on a superb defensive display by the Loughborough back-line of Carl Springthorpe, Mark Edwards and Simon Tebbutt. Symptomatic of the game was the fact that the man of the match award went to the Rugby Town keeper Leech who, in the first half, kept his team in contention time and time again. Loughborough should have gone ahead after five minutes as Gunn laid the ball off for Mould and Leech made a point blank save as the Loughborough side signalled their intentions to avenge the penalties defeat by Rugby in the cup before Christmas. A half chance fell to Rugby's Morgan but 'keeper Springthorpe parried and Tebbutt cleared the loose ball. The best chance of the half to take the lead again fell to Mould but with just keeper Leech to beat the Rugby man came off best, it was a brave save but went down as a bad miss. The Rugby skipper McBain tested 'keeper Springthorpe from distance but it needed a better effort than that to trouble the Loughborough man. The critical saves were at the other end, as Leech made a double save from O'Callaghan and then had to save again from Rogers, Loughborough certainly had the better first half chances. Having missed several chances to go ahead the game levelled out and Rugby showed glimpses of their ability to play fast football that had been in evidence in the previous encounters but they found defender Edwards a tough nut to crack and twice he brought an abrupt end to promising Rugby moves with no nonsense tackling. Defender Carl Springthorpe had his best game for Loughborough since his move from Shepshed as Rugby gave the Loughborough defence a severe workout in the mid half play. As a first half of good competitive football from both sides came to a close Loughborough should have take the lead yet again. O'Callaghan had a golden chance to lay the ball off to Gunn but opted for the tight angle shot into the side netting and Mcintosh kept keeper Leech in the game with a low shot into his arms but it remained goal less at half time. There wasn't so much to choose between the sides in the second half and it became a tense affair between two good sides which threatened to end goal less. It needed a moment of magic and that came from striker Paul O'Callaghan who teased and tormented the Rugby defender before squaring the ball for Darrell Brookes to apply the final touch from close range, it made up for those missed first half chances. There was still half an hour of this game to go and the league leaders were jolted into action and the Loughborough side found they had a tiger by the tail and had to apply themselves in defence. Defenders Edwards, Springthorpe and Tebbutt were asked the questions by the best forward line in the league and were certainly not found wanting. Loughborough simple knocked the stuffing out of this Rugby side, took all they could throw at them and came out looking for another goal and very nearly got it. Brookes had a taste for glory and found the side netting, Pattenden gave a solid midfield performance and even found time to hit a shot from distance. As the game came to a close Gunn so nearly made it two and got a knock for his trouble as Leech was down bravely at his feet to deflect the ball over the top from close range. In the end Loughborough had to settle for the one goal win but no complaints, it was a thoroughly entertaining game and just the result "The Luffs" needed to remain in contention, and make no mistake this is the best result probably since the that very first Mid Com win some three years ago at Brownhills that began a battle for survival. Wednesday evening under lights at the bottom side Kenilworth is followed by a visit to Northfield on Saturday and Easter Monday against one of the leagues current form teams Handsaker, they will come thick and fast now to the season end on May 6th..... we live in exciting times.