The points were shared after a topsy-turvy – and at times bruising – encounter at the Honeycroft Stadium, although Town will feel aggrieved with the outcome after having had by far the best of the game.

Having twice fallen behind against the run of play, Rugby showed good spirit and looked set for third consecutive away league victory until the hosts’ Chris Moore completed a hat-trick in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Valley started brightly, creating a series of half chances – with Lewis McBride twice sending efforts just wide, Ben George curling one the wrong side of the target and Justin Marsden fizzing the ball across the face of the goalmouth from the by-line.

Uxbridge’s physical approach in the early exchanges could have easily earned them a red card or two, with one such challenge on Richard Blythe seeing the midfielder limp out of the game after just twenty minutes – providing a senior debut for youth teamer Brandon Smith in the process.

Lewis Rankin’s rising strike was just over the bar after a Town short corner, before on 27 minutes the home side struck with their first attack of any real note when Moore followed up on Richard Morris’s save to John Jo Bates’s shot to tap home.

Further opportunities fell to Marsden, George and Robbie Burns ahead of the half-time whistle, the last of which a well-struck first-time effort from 25 yards which flew just wide of the top corner.

Rugby again started the second period on top, and got their reward seven minutes into it when Reds’ keeper Rourke Pickford somehow let Rankin’s weak shot creep under him after George had cut the ball back to him.

Will Grocott fired his volley over and Rankin struck the inside of the post, before Uxbridge once more took the lead with a goal from nothing when Moore forced in a looping cross from Craig Tompkins.

Despite this second setback, Valley continued to dominate the game and soon two more chances were spurned by Grocott.

However two Town goals in three minutes gave them the lead for the first time, with Marsden grabbing a 69th minute equaliser when he followed-up on Burns’s low strike, and then Marsden turned provider for Burns to curl one into the top corner via the underside of the bar.

With the hosts rarely threatening thereafter, it looked like Rugby were going to hold on for the win, until Moore popped up with his last gasp equaliser by heading home another deep Tompkins’ centre.

Valley Line-up: Morris; George, Kelly, Rowley, Gudger; Blythe (Smith), Grocott, McBride, Burns; Marsden, Rankin. Subs not used: Banks, Summers. Booked: None.

Uxbridge line-up: Pickford, Wambeek, Phillips, Pepera, Dennison, Carter(c), Warner, Julienne, Tomkins, Moore, Bates. Subs: Christopher, Groves, Knight.