DAVID Kolodynski scored a late winner as Rugby Town battled to a 3-2 win against Bugbrooke St Michael to secure a fourth straight win in all competitions.
Kolodynski’s 83rd minute strike sealed the win after goals either side of the break from Danico Johnson and Adam Shaw put Valley into a two-goal lead.
However, Bugbrooke halved the deficit through Eddie Panter’s penalty before Ash Bodycote’s own goal drew the visitors level only for Rugby to snatch the points one minute later.
The result means Valley remain fourth in the United Counties League Premier Division South table, nine points behind leaders Hinckley LRFC.
Bugbrooke created the first chance of the game when Daniel Porter drew a neat one-handed save from Valley goalkeeper Bodycote.
However, it was Rugby who opened the scoring on 18 minutes when D Johnson held off his marker before finishing low past Bugbrooke keeper Jake Bull from James Hancocks chipped ball.
And it was almost two when D Johnson turned provider to link up with Shaw only for the striker’s effort to be kept out by Bull.
The visitors came close to drawing level when Calvin Green rattled the crossbar with an excellent strike from distance.
Valley ended the first half well with D Johnson shooting wide before Edwin Ahenkorah and Max Johnson saw goalbound efforts blocked.
And the pressure continued after the break when Shaw used his pace to chase down a ball and was denied a goal by the boot of Tom Caton.
However, Bugbrooke remained a threat and cracked the Rugby crossbar for a second time through Josh Whaler’s optimisitc 30-yard effort.
And Rugby then doubled their lead on 57 minutes when Shaw prodded home from Dan Summerfield’s teasing cross.
The visitors halved the deficit on 65 minutes when Summerfield was adjudged to have fouled Joel Gyasi in the penalty area with the spot kick duly converted by Panter.
And Valley were forced to play the final 10 minutes a man short after Loyiso Recci was unable to continue having already made all three of their substitutions.
Rugby then looked to have thrown away the points when Bodycote misread Green’s wind-assisted free-kick on 81 minutes and punched the ball into his own net.
However, Valley scored virtually straight from the restart when Kolodynski exchanged passes with Shaw which ended with the striker netting from 10-yards out.
Rugby are next in action away at North Shields on Saturday, February 12 in the fifth round of the FA Vase with kick-off at 3pm at the Daren Persson Stadium.
