RUGBY Town earned a heroic point in a 1-1 draw away at Corby Town despite playing more than half the game with nine-men.
Valley goalkeeper Matt Hill and midfielder Chris Clements both saw red in the space of three minutes at the end of the first half with striker Jordan Wilson taking the gloves for the rest of the match.
That came after Michael Jacklin opened the scoring for Corby before Mikey Taylor equalised just before the half-hour mark at Steel Park.
The result means Rugby remain in the Northern Premier League Midlands relegation zone, one point behind Gresley Rovers with a game in-hand.
Corby took the lead against the run of play on 16 minutes when Jacklin nodded in at the far post after Jack Keeble’s cross took a deflection and looped into the air.
However, Valley drew level on 26 minutes as Taylor marked his return to the club with a goal, heading home Clements’ cross from six-yards out.
The visitors lost Clements to a red card five minutes before the break after the referee appeared to indicate the Rugby man used an elbow when challenging for an aerial ball.
And Valley goalkeeper Hill also saw red three minutes later after handing the ball outside of his penalty area with striker Wilson forced in-between the sticks.
A game of attack versus defence ensued in the second half as Valley stood firm and frustrated Corby to earn a precious point on the road.
Rugby are next in action at home to AFC Rushden and Diamonds on Saturday, January 20 with kick-off at 3pm at Butlin Road.
