Rugby just failed to register a famous cup upset at St James Park, when Brackley's Steve Diggins struck an equaliser in the seventh minute of stoppage time.

Callum Powell had given Valley the lead against their National League North hosts midway through the second half.

Town boss Dale Belford gave debuts to new midfield signings Jon Adams and Sean Wilkins, with Craig Kelly also back in the starting line-up after a three game absence through injury.

The first half was a relatively uneventful affair, although the hosts arguably shaded it with a couple of headers from striker Steve Diggin just missing the target, and Rugby keeper Raaj Gill doing well to keep out a Sam Whittall effort from close range.

For Rugby, Jake Healy put a weak shot straight into the arms of Dan Crane, and with the final kick of the opening period, David Kolodynski fired one over the bar after his initial free-kick had rebounded back to him.

The game sprang to life nine minutes into the second half, when Gill rushed from his line to deal with a ball into the box, upending David Moyo in the process- an act which prompted the referee to award Brackley a penalty.

A lengthy delay followed whilst Gill’s battered head was patched up, with the keeper then getting up to save Diggin’s well-struck spot-kick to his right.

Valley went ahead on 64 minutes when Powell showed great tenacity to chase down a poor back pass by full-back Eddie Odhiambo, blocking Crane’s efforts to clear this and diverting the ball across the line in the process.

Kolodynski had a great chance to extend the margin between the two sides, running onto a Wilkins’ pass to lift the ball over Crane – but agonisingly onto the crossbar instead.

The home side upped the pressure on the Rugby defence, although without really extending Gill to any great degree, but on the award of a late corner a mass goalmouth scramble ensued ending with Diggin somehow making space for himself to lift the ball into the net for that last gasp leveller.

Rugby line-up: Gill, Parker, Warburton, Rowley, Towers, Wilkins (Cartwright), Kelly (Lake-Gaskin), Adams, Kolodynski, Powell, Healy. Subs not used: Clifton, Reynolds, Gray, Belford, Woods.

Brackley line-up: Crane, Odhiambo, McDonald, Whittall, Graham, Mills, Smith, Walker, Moyo, Diggin, Batchelor. Subs: Story, Austin, Truelove, Farrell, Morley .