A controversially awarded penalty condemned Valley to defeat on a bobbly Wey Court surface, with all three of the game’s goals coming in the second half.

After a relatively encouraging first period from Dave Stringer’s side, Rugby then conceded shortly after the restart.

However having appeared to have salvaged a least a point when substitute Justin Marsden struck with just seven minutes of normal time remaining, they almost immediately fell behind again when Godalming's Jack Mazzone converted from the spot.

Once an unchanged Town had dealt with the early threat of the hosts – which saw Adam Cornell twice go close, the visitors went on to have the better of the remainder of the first half.

Their first chance came after a good run down the left hand side by full-back Craig Kelly created a shooting opportunity for Sam Youngs, but his twenty yard effort flew just over the bar.

Richard Gregory headed Youngs’ cross from the by-line straight at keeper Richard Ossai, and then the move of the half had Gregory, Richard Blythe and Youngs combining well to set-up Lewis Rankin, but Ossai managed to parry away the teenager’s powerful low strike.

A Youngs’ corner almost found its way into the net via a G’s defender just ahead of the interval, and as the teams returned from the dressing rooms, hopes were high that Rugby could finally find that elusive opening goal.

However it was Godalming that broke the deadlock after just five further minutes, when Will Hutton’s low cross from the right was met by Cornell and he bundled the ball over the line via Valley keeper Richard Morris - who received a knock in the process and had to receive lengthy treatment before being able to continue.

Rugby struggled to regain a foothold on the game after this setback, although Blythe did head a great chance straight at Ossai from eight yards after Ben George had picked him out with a good cross.

At the other end, Morris did well to keep out a Mazzone header, with the same player then drilling another effort just wide of the upright.

On 83 minutes the visitors levelled things up, with Rankin, Seb Lake-Gaskin and Youngs all involved before Marsden raced clear and lobbed home over Ossai.

However within a minute the travelling fans’ joy turned to despair, when Mason Rowley was adjudged to have pulled back Mazzone in the box, and the striker himself stepped up to send his penalty past Morris – although the keeper did manage to get a hand to the powerful strike.

Valley Line-up: Morris; George (Lake-Gaskin), Kelly, Rowley, Austin; Blythe, Burns; Rankin, Grocott (Koriya), Youngs; Gregory (Marsden). Subs not used: Banks, Piggon. Booked: None.

Godalming line-up: Ossai, C. Hutton, Wales, Lloyd, Willment; Frith, Roberts, W. Hutton, L. Hutton; Mazzone, Cornell. Subs: Wheeler, Howard, Brown, Wigley, Lunn.