Rugby, with only two goals to show from seven games, are already revealing their major weakness, and but for some splendid defending on Saturday, Wimbledon must have won this game ccmfortably, writes Phil Cockbill.

Mick Richards had an inspired afternoon, getting to shots which looked sure winners, and the defence, positioning intelligently during dangerous Wimbledon probes, were there twice to kick off the line when Richards had been drawn out of position.

Nevertheless, luck also played its part in the gaining of a point, for on three occasions the thrustful Wimbledon forewards hit the woodwork. Twice they got the ball into the net, but on each occasion the whistle went for infringements.

PRESSURE Town can be congratulated in not cracking under the tremen- dous pressure, and even after Peter Hinde had received another blow to his already damaged ankle for him to play the last 20 minutes almost as a passenger, the defence still went in with a will.

Rugby had their chances, but they were few. Ken Harrald, who played a great game at full back and went up to strengthen the attack on numerous occasions, was guilty of the most blatant error when, with Smith all at sea, he blazed over from close range.

In the dying seconds of the game Rugby could have snatched another point. Smith failed to hold a long dropping shot from Whittle and Bill Denton and Ken Whitehead raced in to clinch the affair but some- how managed to miss the net.

ROBBED Town's chief failure was in playing too much on the defensive. Individually, the forwards played well, but they did not combine as a team, with the result that time and again the man with the ball had to wait for colleagues to get up to him. And by the time the line was ready for action, either the player had been robbed, or the competent Wimbledon defence were blocking the way to goal.

It was encouraging to see young John Brady, who has had experience with Atherstone and Hinckley, but never before played in higher grade football, shaping so well at inside right. He should be a force to be reckoned with if given better support.

[ --- Rugby Advertiser 23 August 1968]