RUGBY Town came from behind to claim an impressive point in a 1-1 draw away at league champions Quorn.
After Quorn player-manager Ryan Beswick put the home side ahead Ayo Lekuti drew Valley level late on at Farley Way.
However, Rugby felt they should have had a penalty and Quorn a potential red card when Tom Allsopp appeared to bring down Trey Charles in the box early in the second period.
The result means Valley sit 19th in the Northern Premier League Midlands relegation zone, three points from safety with four matches left to play.
Quorn broke the deadlock on 13 minutes when Beswick glanced in a corner from the right from close range.
And the home side spurned a glorious chance to double their lead as Rodrigo Goncalves fired wide when one-on-one with Paul Hathaway.
Hathaway then made a fine save low down to his left to keep out Goncalves’ low effort after he cut into the box from the left.
Rugby almost drew level at the other end as Allsopp pushed Harrison Nee’s powerful effort from the edge of the penalty area behind for a corner.
And Quorn’s Zak Goodson then shot inches past the post from the right-hand side of the penalty area.
Rugby improved after the break as the home side failed to deal with a ball in-behind with Charles unable to pounce on a defensive mix-up.
Quorn failed to deal with another long ball later in the half as Charles nipped in ahead of Allsopp and took the ball past the home goalkeeper.
However, Allsopp grabbed onto Charles’ leg as he attempted to turn the loose ball into an empty net only for the officials to wave away Rugby’s protests.
Valley equalised on 79 minutes when Lekuti created space for a shot on the edge of the penalty area and blasted a shot past the despairing dive of Allsopp.
Rugby are next in action against Shepshed Dynamo on Saturday, April 12 with kick-off at 3pm at the Dovecote Stadium.
