Dale Belford's first game in charge of Town ended in cruel fashion when a 95th minute header by Richard Patterson condemned his new charges to another NPL away day reverse.
Rugby had deserved at least a point from the game after an encouraging performance at the Look Local Stadium, until Patterson rose highest to help home the ball with the hosts only real chance of the second half.
With striker David Kolodynski unavailable, new signing Jake Healey made his debut for the club, with another new boy Spencer Smith also registering a first Valley outing.
The home side made the brighter start, with Adam Hinchliffe putting his speculative effort way over the bar inside the first minute.
However Rugby were soon into their stride, and the pacey Callum Powell had a good run down the wing before producing a teasing cross which was just out of reach of his team mates.
Mason Rowley’s downward header at the backpost hit the side netting in another good early chance for the visitors.
A Craig Kelly corner saw Rowley go close again with another headed attempt – this time with his back to goal, and in an end-to-end first period Lee Garside also nearly put the home side ahead when he struck the bar with a looping header - after being completely unmarked from a Barry Coleman cross.
The second half started slowly, with neither side able to penetrate their opposing defence.
It was not until the 61st minute that an attempt was made on goal, when Powell’s effort from the edge of the box was parried by David Reay – before the rebound was sent high and wide by the onrushing Sam Warburton.
Warburton struck another off-target from a tight angle, and with time running out the ever-impressive Powell shot agonisingly wide after a good run.
These missed opportunities were to prove costly for Rugby, as Stocksbridge launched a late rally.
Harrison Biggins and Brad Grayson had both threatened, before with the game deep into stoppage time Smith conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position to allow Biggins to deliver a perfectly weighted free-kick onto the head of Patterson – who powered home from close range past Niall Cooper.
As soon as the play was restarted the referee blew up for full time to signal a fourth successive league defeat on the road for Town.
Valley
Line-up: Cooper; Smith, Kelly, Rowley, Walker; Parker, Warburton (Glasscoe), Clifton, Towers; Healy (Whiteside), Powell. Subs not used: Mullarkey, Tellyn. Booked: None.
Stocksbridge line-up: D.Reay, Meade, Coleman, Patterson, McFadyen, M.Reay, Biggins, Hinchliffe, Garside, Critchlow, Gregory. |