Rugby's miserable Bank Holiday weekend was complete with another disappointing defeat away to South Normanton Athletic.

Valley’s miserable Bank Holiday weekend was rounded off by another disappointing performance and a single goal defeat in Derbyshire. Dave Stringer’s squad was truly down to the bare bones due to a number of injuries and absences to key players, with only half-fit defender Kyle Rowley named on the bench.

Their problems were compounded midway through the opening period when keeper Niall Cooper damaged his groin, with substitute Rowley then taking his place between the sticks after the interval.

The hosts winner came thirteen minutes before the end of normal time, with Town’s best spell of the game coming after this as they desperately tried to avoid a third consecutive league defeat.

The first half was a virtual non-event, with neither side looking likely to break the deadlock.

Liam Holt did fire a decent enough strike from thirty yards the wrong side of the target though, whilst Jack Tyson twice tested Cooper and Athletic player-manager Tommy Leighton could have arguably done better when he broke into the box – only to send his effort wide of the target.

With a stand-in keeper for the entire second half, it was always going to be a tough ask for Rugby from then on, as the hosts sought to take advantage of the situation from the restart.

Normanton substitute Kevin Hemagou looped an effort onto the bar, before another shot shortly after – this time by Shane Newton – also struck the horizontal.

Sam Belcher did draw a fine save from Charlie Mansfield with a strike from distance after David Kolodynski’s pass had picked him out, with another decent opportunity then falling to Rugby skipper James Dance, but he could only lift the ball over the bar on the turn.

The decisive goal came after Kenny McEvoy had surged past a couple of Town defenders before slipping the ball inside to Hemagou, who fired in at the near post.

Kolodynski put one into the side netting from a tight angle, before the hosts squandered a great opportunity to put the game beyond Town’s reach when Luke Crosby failed to convert on a quick counter attack.

Holt fizzed a low strike just wide in added-on time, with Sean Castleton then heading against the bar in the closing moments of the game too.

There was also time for a Jamie Hall corner to cause problems in a crowded goalmouth, but somehow the home defence managed to clear the ball to safety.

Valley Line-up: Cooper (K Rowley); Print, Hall, M Rowley, Castleton; Holloway, Ruff, Belcher, Holt; Dance, Kolodynski. Subs not used: None. Booked: Ruff, Holt.

Normanton line-up: Mansfield, O’Brien, Mitchell, Kirk, Desroslers, Jalyeloa, Leigh, Leighton, Tyson, Newton, Fell. Subs: Crosby, Hemagou, Sylla, McEvoy, Kellogg.