Town extended their run of games without victory to four in a thoroughly forgettable affair in Shropshire.

Dave Stringer’s side travelled to the Ludlow Stadium on the back of two defeats and a draw to face a home team fighting for the points to preserve their MFL top flight status.

Valley’s starting eleven showed two changes from the home loss to Westfields the previous weekend, with Mason Rowley in for Sean Castleton at centre-half and Sam Beasley preferred to Harry Holloway in the middle of the park.

There was also a return to the squad for defender Conor Wright on the substitutes’ bench.

The hosts understandably started the game in purposeful fashion, and soon created an opportunity when Ben Cullen was played clean through, but the United striker blazed his final shot way off-target.

The sparse home crowd did not have to wait too much longer to see the deadlock broken though, when a sweeping move which started down the Shawbury left led to a poor defensive header by Remi Birch on the other side of the pitch - providing wing-back Liam Taylor with the chance to slot the ball home past Niall Cooper.

Whilst Rugby did show some commendable endeavour in their attempt to get back into the game, their attacking play generally lacked imagination and they were primarily restricted to speculative strikes which failed to trouble United keeper Ian Havard.

Sam Belcher blazed one over Havard’s bar and David Kolodynski also hit one that failed to trouble the keeper.

Meanwhile at the other end, Town’s defence was relatively untroubled by Shawbury’s efforts to double their advantage.

Josh Ruff also missed the target with his shot, before Kolodynski finally forced Havard into a save, as the disappointing spectacle of a first half drew to a close.

Town had the lion’s share of the possession after the restart, but once again invention was absent and clear cut chances therefore at a premium.

The second half grew increasingly physical in nature, with the hosts ending the game with four men in the book – with one of these lucky to escape a red card when referee James Whittington failed to identify him after a late challenge on sub Holloway.

Rugby also had two decent shouts for penalties turned down by the match official, although Cullen did miss a decent chance for the home side when he lifted one over the bar from only a few yards out.

Another Town sub John Mills spurned Town’s best opportunity late-on when he did likewise, as United held onto three valuable relegation fighting points.

Valley Line-up: Cooper; Print, Birch, Dance, Rowley; Belcher (Mills), Beasley (Holloway); Hendrie, Ruff (Wright), Kolodynski; Wiggins-Thomas. Subs not used: Castleton. Booked: Beasley.

Shawbury line-up: Havard, L.Taylor, Evans, J.Taylor, Stallard, Askey, Delacoe, Lloyd, Cullen, Ballard, Cooper. Subs: Hodge, Ellis, Farnsworth, Jones.