RUGBY Town slipped to a 2-1 home defeat against Carlton Town on the opening day of the season.
A late goal from Rivel Mardenborough halved the deficit after Lewis Durow and Ashley Chambers put Carlton in command at Butlin Road.
However, controversy reigned in injury time with Valley awarded a penalty only for the referee to eventually overturn his original decision.
The result means Rugby sit 17th in the Northern Premier League Midlands table.
Valley spurned a number of chances in the first half as former Rugby goalkeeper Nykah Liburd-Hinds denied both Callum Griffin and Ryan Sahota.
And Harrison Nee then saw an effort deflected wide as the first half ended goalless.
However, Carlton broke the deadlock on 57 minutes when Durow powered home from Niall Davie’s pass.
That came after Rugby goalkeeper Marcus Bald pushed Dean Freeman’s header from Durow’s long throw onto the crossbar.
And the visitors doubled their lead on the hour mark as Chambers finished Liam Bateman’s cross.
Valley responded eight minutes from time when Mardenborough fired home from substitute Dilano Reid’s pass.
And the hosts thought they had won a penalty deep into injury time following a foul on Nee in the box.
However, the referee overturned his decision after a player suffered a head injury just before Nee was fouled.
Rugby are next in action against Wellingborough Town on Tuesday, August 12 with kick-off at 7.45pm at the Dog and Duck ground.
