Rugby and Worcester’s FA Cup tie went to a replay after the two sides fought out a close goal-less draw in Saturday’s game at Aggborough.

Valley were more than a match for their Skrill Conference North opponents, and could have easily put the game out of sight in a dominant opening half an hour period – which saw them threaten the City goal on four separate occasions.

With just three minutes on the clock, Justin Marsden’s slide rule pass set David Kolodynski free through the middle, however the striker was unable to fully capitalise on the space and ultimately his low shot was beaten away by keeper Jose Veiga.

Richard Blythe’s lofted pass then picked out Seb Lake-Gaskin just inside the Worcester box, but his snapshot volley on the turn drifted just wide of the target.

The game was still only ten minutes old, when Kolodynski had another chance from an Ellis Myles’ cross – but again the effort went the wrong side of the post.

Sam Youngs put a free-kick over the bar, before arguably the pick of Town’s early opportunities then fell to Lake-Gaskin, with Rugby’s current top scorer lifting the ball over from a great position after Alex Gudger had headed down another Youngs’ set-piece delivery.

The returning Lewis McBride’s low shot was comfortably saved by Veiga, before the hosts mounted a comeback in the final third of the first period.

Danny Glover flicked one wide after Niall Cooper had spilled skipper Tom Thorley’s long range effort, Richard Taundry shot wide and Aaron Williams should really have done better with his chance after he was released by Daniel Nti.

The last chance of the half fell to Rugby though, with Kolodynski’s shot blocked after Lake-Gaskin had broken free down the left.

The second period started slowly, although Mason Rowley did have a header easily taken by Viega on 52 minutes.

Worcester sub Niall Thompson then almost set-up Williams at the far post, but his deep cross was just too long to enable his team-mate to get a true connection on it.

Shortly after, the best opportunity of the game again fell to Williams - with once more Thompson the provider, but the City man somehow lifted the ball over the bar from ten yards.

The game drew to a tense conclusion, with the home side coming closest to scoring through a trio of headers from Nti – the best of these seeing him head Ellis Deeney’s free-kick over the bar late in the game.

Earlier at the other end, Aaron Moses-Garvey’s speculative effort had failed to trouble Veiga – meaning the two sides will meet again at Butlin Road on Tuesday evening for a place in the final qualifying round of the competition.

Valley Line-up: Cooper; Myles, Kelly, Rowley, Gudger; McBride, Marsden, Blythe (Moses-Garvey), Youngs; Lake-Gaskin; Kolodynski. Subs not used: Andrew Spencer, Palmer, Gnadja, Bishop. Booked: None.

Worcester line-up: Veiga, G.Williams, Deeney, Thorley, Hutchison, Khan, A.Williams, Taundry, Nti, Nelson-Addy, Glover. Subs: Thompson, Moore, Hales, Munday, Smith, Lemmon, Sargeant.