RUGBY Town conceded three second-half goals in a 3-0 defeat away at high-flying Worcester City.
Valley more than held their own in the first half but eventually succumbed to Worcester’s pressure in the second period at Claines Lane.
City broke the deadlock on 71 minutes when Zac Guinan found the net before Shay Palmer doubled the home side’s lead late on and Guinan scored his second of the game in injury time.
The result means Rugby sit 19th in the Northern Premier League Midlands relegation zone, three points from safety.
Valley spurned a glorious chance to take the lead in the first half as City defender Charlie Wise made a last-ditch challenge to deny Trey Charles a shot on goal.
However, Worcester ramped up the pressure after the break as Sopuruchukwu Obieri headed wide at a corner from close range.
And Obieri saw another effort deflect onto the crossbar with Wise unable to turn home the rebound from point-blank range.
The home side went close again soon after as Elliott Hartley headed over Guinan’s cross from inside the six-yard box.
However, Worcester eventually took the lead on 71 minutes when Guinan pounced on some hesitancy in the Valley defence to turn home a loose ball from eight-yards out.
And City doubled their lead four minutes from time as Palmer raced onto a long ball in-behind the Rugby defence and kept his cool to finish into an empty net after Valley goalkeeper Paul Hathaway slipped and lost his footing.
Worcester added some gloss to the scoreline two minutes into injury time as Guinan turned home Jordan Lymn’s dangerous ball across the box from virtually on the goal line.
Rugby are next in action against Coventry Sphinx on Saturday, March 8 with kick-off at 3pm at the Sphinx Industrial Supplies Arena.
