It was another frustrating afternoon for Valley last Saturday, after they failed to see off the division's bottom club at a windy, bobbly Berkeley Fields ground.

Whilst the hosts' form has undoubtedly been improved of late, Town still contrived to put in another disappointing performance at such a critical point of the season - with a missed first half penalty also not helping their cause.

Richard Gregory and Fazel Koriya replaced Alex Austin and Sam Youngs in Rugby's starting eleven from the previous game against Barton, and the visitors made the brighter start in the testing conditions - with Gregory's early speculative long ranger just clearing the bar.

At the other end, Catalin Fasie threatened with a header to a Ivan Ruiz free-kick, before United took the lead in the 16th minute when an unmarked Bryan Vigneron received the ball just outside the penalty area, before cleverly chipping over keeper Neil Collett and into the net.

Valley though were soon back in the game when Gregory scored a delightful free kick from twenty five yards out giving home keeper Yvan Lambert no chance with a powerful strike which serenely flew past the defensive wall.

Rugby were now in the ascendency and after 36 minutes were awarded a penalty when Lewis Rankin was adjudged to have been fouled in the box - when perhaps the challenge was outside of the area. However Gregory's subsequent effort from the spot was comfortably kept out by Imbert.

Just two minutes ahead of the interval, Rankin put in his side's first on-target effort from open play, before the second half saw an improved display by Town.

However whilst Valley dominated in terms of possession thereafter, the determined Greenford rearguard managed to restrict the number of clear goalscoring opportunities they could generate.

The best chances saw a ferocious shot by Will Grocott's go just wide and a Justin Marsden close range effort saved by an alert Imbert, whilst the impressive Mason Rowley also had a powerful goalbound header taken by the keeper.

It was home side that nearly snatched the three points at the death though, when striker Gerard Flanagan hit a lovely shot on the turn over the bar, and substitute Sofiane Hamadi then had a header go agonisingly wide.

Valley Line-up: Collett; Grocott, Kelly, Rowley, George; Blythe, Burns; Rankin (Piggon), Koriya, Marsden; Gregory (Lake-Gaskin). Subs not used: Banks, Reeve. Booked: Rankin, Collett.

North Greenford line-up: Imbert, Camacho, Fasie, Ambroisine, Mohammed, Ruiz, Rodriques, Vigneron, Eneg, Robinson, Flanagan.