Rugby were defeated for the second time over the New Year weekend, when a wonderstrike from Carlton’s Danny Gordon settled the clash between the two potential relegation rivals.

Gary Moran’s side had plenty of opportunities to salvage something from this crucial match, but a combination of poor finishing and stoic defending from the hosts left Gordon’s scorcher of a free-kick as its decisive moment.

Moran restored the fit and available again duo Anthony Charles and Trey Brathwaite to his line-up, and they made the better start on a sub-standard surface.

Levi Rowley had a low effort saved by Jack Steggles after the striker had shrugged off a number of challenges, and he was then unfortunate not to have been awarded a penalty after he tried to do the same to Daniel Fletcher just inside the Carlton box.

William Mellors-Blair and Niall Davie both failed to trouble Rugby keeper Dan Jezeph with their strikes, but it was still Valley that looked the more threatening proposition as Aaron Moses-Garvey fired just over from twelve yards after he had cut in from the left.

However the best chance of opening half an hour did fall to the hosts, when Alex Troke broke through behind the Town defence, but Jezeph got just enough on his resulting effort and the ball rebounded back off the post before Moran cleared it to safety.

What proved to be the winning goal came on 38 minutes after Mason Rowley had fouled Troke just over twenty yards from Rugby’s goal, giving Gordon the opportunity to step up and smash an unstoppable set-piece into the top right hand corner.

Valley carved out a great chance to level things on the stroke of half-time though, when Brathwaite fed Chris Sterling in the area, but Sterling could only direct his shot straight at Steggles.

The second half saw Rugby start brightly once more, and Steggles did well to punch clear a dangerous Leigh Phillips’ cross and the keeper was again in alert form to deny Levi Rowley after Brathwaite had laid the ball off to him.

Sterling then squandered another gilt edged opportunity when lifted over from close range after Brathwaite had seen his initial effort deflected towards the goal.

Troke and Mellors-Blair then combined well at the other end, with the latter’s strike clipping the top of the crossbar, before another miss from the out-of-luck Sterling – who again found Steggles with his effort.

Brathwaite's volley was blocked and another similar strike by Charles from close quarters was deflected over the bar as the chances continued to come, although with the visitors now pushing hard for an equaliser it was inevitable they would be exposed at the back and Jezeph did well to rush off his line and block out Gordon.

A half chance for Valley sub David Kolodynski lacked the necessary power, before the hosts thought they had settled the game with three minutes of normal time remaining, but Davie’s strike was controversially ruled out for a foul.

Valley Line-up: Jezeph; Moran, Charles, M Rowley, Burgess; Phillips (Kolodynski), Brathwaite, Thomson, Moses-Garvey; L Rowley, Sterling (Campbell). Subs not used: Connor, Fura, Hudson. Booked: None.

Carlton Line-up: Steggles, Carlisle, Fletcher, Schoenecker, Gorman, Walker, Davie, Elliott, Troke, Mellors-Blair, Gordon. Subs: Stovell, Rae, Newton, Keane.