RUGBY Town put in a battling performance despite slipping to a 3-1 defeat away at play-off chasing Hinckley Leicester Road.
Valley conceded early on only for Silvano Obeng to equalise inside the opening 10 minutes as two second-half goals condemned Rugby to defeat at Leicester Road Stadium.
The result means Valley sit 18th in the Northern Premier League Midlands table, two points above the relegation zone, having lost their last four league matches.
Hinckley broke the deadlock after just two minutes when an unmarked Spencer Edwards met Michael Armstrong’s corner to head home past Rugby goalkeeper Tomasz Bukowski.
And the home side almost doubled their lead soon after as Josh Thomas made a crucial covering clearance after Aaron Nuttall rounded Bukowski and sent the ball goalwards.
Rugby responded with a chance of their own as Barry Fitzharris fired narrowly over the bar following good work from Theo Rowe.
And the visitors drew level on nine minutes when Obeng flicked home a header from close range after Thomas prodded Chris Clements’ corner into the scorer’s path.
Francis then forced Hinckley goalkeeper Will Highland into a fine save from another Clements corner before Highland also denied both Dan Summerfield and Madundo Semahimbo.
After the break, Andre Williams flicked Nuttall’s cutback wide before Rowe curled a shot against the inside of the post at the other end.
However, Hinckley reclaimed the lead on 64 minutes when Williams tapped home Louie Gill’s cross following a well-worked move moments after Bukowski denied Ben Humphreys.
And the home side sealed the points on 73 minutes as Bukowski misjudged Armstrong’s inswinging corner into the wind and parried the ball over the line.
Rugby are next in action at home to Lye Town on Saturday, March 30 with kick-off at 3pm at Butlin Road.
