lineup

dean thomas

gary moran

jamie williams

adam hart

craig herbert

gary redgate

rory squire

craig dutton

robbie beard

justin marsden

steve evans

subs used

jon douglas

michael hegarty

A spectacular late collapse saw ten man Rugby United lose their grip on a game they should have won.

United's Assistant Manager Steve Shea, showing great calmness given the circumstances, said: "We were 2-0 up, cruising and in no danger. "A couple of their players started to niggle at us so instead of getting on with the game we got involved. We switched off, lost our shape and discipline and defensively got blown apart. "The same happened in the two FA Cup games against Hednesford Town and the lesson should have been learnt. The players need to take a good hard look at themselves."

 Valley got off to a dream start when Justin Marsden's clinical finish from the edge of the box put them in front after 58 seconds. Robbie Beard and Steve Evans went close to extending Rugby's advantage, before Marsden scored again in the 51st minute, slotting under the body of Hitchin goalkeeper Richard Wilmot after running half the length of the field.

The home side responded by pushing men forward and bringing on striker Gavin Jaggard for defender James Kidd. The tactical change paid off when Josh Sozzo pulled a goal back by converting Rory Hutton's 64th minute cross at the near post. Amid a flurry of yellow cards Beard was sent off for a second bookable offence and Hitchin took control to turn the game dramatically on its head. Jaggard equalised in the 71st minute with a header from a free kick, and then six minutes later swept home Sozzo's pass to give his side the lead. The substitute completed his quick fire hat-trick four minutes from time when he looped a header back across goal from a far post cross.