RUGBY Town suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat against high-flying Basford United in a five-goal thriller.
Town rallied in the second half as Will Harris and Sam Tye twice reduced the deficit for Valley at Butlin Road.
However, goals from Jordan Hallam, Tyler Dacres and Nyle Blake helped Basford to victory as the visitors stretched their unbeaten run to 13 matches in the league.
The result means Rugby sit 16th in the Northern Premier League Midlands table, four points clear of the relegation zone.
Basford broke the deadlock on 12 minutes when Hallam found the net from outside the penalty area with a fine strike from distance.
Valley’s best chance of the first half saw Rivel Mardenborough guide a shot wide of the target when well-placed.
However, Basford doubled their lead just past the hour mark on 62 minutes as Dacres finished on the turn.
Rugby halved the deficit on 69 minutes when Harris headed in after Kobi Bivens’ initial header appeared to cross the line.
However, the visitors restored their two-goal cushion seven minutes later as Blake finished off Jack Thomas’s cross.
Valley kept themselves in the contest when Tye turned home Bivens’ cross from close range on 79 minutes but the home side could not find an equaliser in the remaining time.
Rugby are next in action against Coleshill Town on Saturday, February 7 with kick-off at 3pm Pack Meadow.
