Waders go top after Daniel downs Rugby

The visitors had more of the territory in the first half, but Biggleswade created the better chances.

Brett Donnelly was denied by the post, but after the break, Craig Daniel accelerated past his man before thumping a shot past the keeper.

Rugby were reduced to 10 men when Sam Belcher was sent off, but Waders keeper Mike McEntegart was never unduly troubled as the hosts comfortably held on.

A delighted manager Chris Nunn said: “It was a tough game. Rugby are the best team we’ve played this season, they’re quick, got a lot of pace, but we showed a lot of strength and character.

“You’ve got to learn to win ugly. We rolled up our sleeves and I thought our workrate was exceptional, I was really proud of the boys.

“It was the first time they hadn’t scored in 22 games. We were going to be up against it, but I thought we deserved to win, we had the better chances.

“They started quite brightly for the first 15 minutes but we worked our way into it, and in the last 15-20 minutes of the first half, I thought we were very dominant.

“Brett Donnelly hit the post, the keeper tipped Jonathan Woolf’s shot wide and I thought we were in control.

“In the second half, we should have had a blatant penalty after Craig Daniel was hauled down but it wasn’t given.

“Within a few minutes, one of their players got sent off for two yellows, then we really took control of game. Craig scored a great goal, he cut in, 22 yards out, smacked it with his left foot right into the corner.

“With 10 minutes left, we started to get a little bit nervous, a bit deep, but the pleasing thing for me was Mikey (Michael McEntagart) never had a save to make.”

For more on Waders’ rise to the top of table and Nunn’s bid to bring a new striker in, see the Biggleswade Chronicle on sale tomorrow.d