FOOTBALL: RUGBY Town endured a miserable bank holiday weekend, losing both games against Haughmond and South Normanton Athletic.
Valley first faced a home task against Haughmond on Saturday.
Dave Stringer’s men put in a poor performance and never offered enough going forward and were similarly punished by a defensive error just before half time.
Joseph Parry dispossessed Kyle Rowley before rounding Niall Cooper to score.
Rugby put some pressure on throughout the second half, but they failed to find the breakthrough needed to get an equaliser.
Valley’s miserable Bank Holiday weekend was rounded off by another disappointing performance and a single goal defeat in Derbyshire.
Dave Stringer’s squad was down to the bare bones due to a number of injuries and absences to key players on Monday.
Their problems were compounded midway through the opening period when keeper Niall Cooper damaged his groin, with substitute Rowley then taking his place between the sticks after the interval.
The first half was a virtual non-event, with neither side looking likely to break the deadlock.
Liam Holt did fire a decent enough strike from thirty yards the wrong side of the target though, whilst Jack Tyson twice tested Cooper and Athletic player-manager Tommy Leighton could have arguably done better when he broke into the box – only to send his effort wide of the target.
With a stand-in keeper for the entire second half, it was always going to be a tough ask.
Normanton substitute Kevin Hemagou looped an effort onto the bar, before another shot shortly after – this time by Shane Newton – also struck the horizontal.
The decisive goal came after Kenny McEvoy surged past a couple of Town defenders before slipping the ball inside to Hemagou, who fired in at the near post.
Kolodynski put one into the side netting from a tight angle, before the hosts squandered a great opportunity to put the game beyond Town’s reach when Luke Crosby failed to convert on a quick counter attack.
Rugby are now 15th in the Midland Football League Premier Division having registered just four points from five games.
