RUGBY Town suffered an agonising 1-0 defeat against Racing Club Warwick in their first game of the New Year.
Valley spurned a golden chance to win the game late on before Andre Williams struck four minutes into injury time at Townsend Meadow.
And the result means Rugby sit 20th in the Northern Premier League Midlands relegation zone, seven points from safety.
The visitors made a bright start as Trey Charles went through one-on-one only for Racing goalkeeper Sam Lomax to make a fine fingertip save.
At the other end, Louis Monaghan looked to pounce on a ball in-behind the Valley defence but could not make a clean connection with his shot under pressure from Liam Francis.
After the break, Lomax pushed Harrison Nee’s effort from 20-yards out to safety before the Racers won a penalty after Madundo Semahimbo fouled Cameron Ebbutt in the box.
However, Valley goalkeeper Paul Hathaway dove to his right and produced a superb stop to deny James Hancocks from the spot.
Warwick hit the crossbar soon after when Archie Hamp’s high hanging cross from the right dropped against the woodwork.
Rugby spurned a glorious chance to snatch the points late on as substitute Tayo Tucker somehow headed Nee’s cross from the left into the ground and over the bar at the back post from four yards out with the goal at his mercy.
And the Racers made Valley pay for that missed chance when substitute Williams sent a superb shot over Hathaway and into the net from 25-yards out via the underside of the crossbar.
Rugby are next in action against Corby Town on Saturday, January 4 with kick-off at 3pm at Butlin Road.
