JAMIE Melbourne scored a fortuitous equaliser as 10-man Rugby Town came from behind to draw 1-1 with local rivals Coventry Sphinx.
Melbourne’s wind-assisted cross found the net on 48 minutes after Tyler Haddow opened the scoring before Liam Francis saw red for Valley on 65 minutes at the Sphinx Industrial Supplies Arena.
And the result means Rugby sit 18th in the Northern Premier League Midlands table, three points clear of the relegation zone.
Sphinx broke the deadlock on 33 minutes when Haddow stooped to head home Matty Shipman’s cross and score his first goal for the club.
However, Valley drew level when Melbourne’s attempted cross from the left went all the way in to the top left corner after Sphinx goalkeeper Keelan Fallows misjudged the ball.
The visitors lost Francis to a red card with 25 minutes still to play after the defender picked up a second yellow card.
However, despite their numerical disadvantage, it was Rugby who looked more likely to win the game as Mikey Taylor went close on more than one occasion.
Sphinx remained a threat and almost made the most of the man advantage at the death as some excellent Valley defending earned the visitors a point.
Rugby are next in action at home to Coleshill Town on Saturday, February 24 with kick-off at 3pm at Butlin Road.
