RUGBY Borough had captain Oran Jackson sent off before half time in a heavy 4-0 defeat away at promotion rivals Aylestone Park.
A screamer from Jake Duffy put the home side in front while Rugby lost Jackson to a red card four minutes before half time.
And Duffy compounded Borough’s misery by scoring the resulting free-kick as Sam Hollis and Abdul Sunmonu stretched the home side’s lead after the break at Saffron Lane.
The result means Rugby sit third in the United Counties League Premier Division South table, seven points behind leaders St Neots Town with a game in-hand.
Aylestone broke the deadlock on 31 minutes as Duffy unleashed a stunning effort into the top right corner from 25-yards out.
Borough skipper Jackson then received a straight red card on 41 minutes after the referee deemed the defender had brought down Hollis as the last man.
And Duffy fired the resulting free-kick into the bottom right corner to leave Rugby with a mountain to climb at the break.
The home side won a penalty five minutes after the break as Corey Armeni drew a foul in the box and Hollis stepped up to score the resulting spot kick.
And Aylestone completed the scoring on 78 minutes when substitute Sunmonu powered a shot into the bottom right corner.
Rugby are next in action against Easington Sports on Saturday, February 1 with kick-off at 3pm at Addison Road.
