Rugby Town's final pre-season preparations were completed with a late defeat against Southern League Premier Central side Bedworth United at Butlin Road.

The game was a mostly even affair until the second half when the higher-league visitors started to take more control and they were finally rewarded in the final few minutes with goals from substitutes Iyseden Christie and former Valley striker Levi Rowley.

After weeks and weeks of dry weather in Rugby, the game featured some heavy rainfall as Valley boss Carl Adams had to cope without key players Loyiso Recci, Danico Johnson and Keenah Rosser due to unavailability which meant a couple of players playing in unfamiliar roles including Richard Blythe deputising at centre half against his old side.

The first half featured little in the way of goalmouth action with Harry Holloway testing the goalkeeper early on from the edge of the area and Lewis Rankin also forcing a save with a 20-yard free-kick while early substitute Rowley missed a couple of good chances for Bedworth.

The best chance of the half came after a neat exchange by Rugby which saw Rankin slide a pass into the area for Justin Marsden but his clipped shot was well charged down by Dan Crane.

Bedworth came out with more purpose in the second half and nearly had a goal within moments when Rugby defender Dominic Perkins put too much on his backpass but fortunately it only hit the post.

Marsden shot straight at the Crane as chances dried up for Rugby in the second half while Bedworth were getting closer with Kieron Brehon shooting into the sidenetting from a good position and Valley goalkeeper Matt Hill making an excellent save to deny Alex Troke.

The breakthrough finally came with seven minutes remaining when a superb in-swinging cross from the left was met by a close range diving header by Christie.

The goal appeared to adversely affect the hosts as Bedworth found it easy to cut through the defence late on with Rowley missing a glorious chance at the far post while Luke Edwards had to make a crucial saving block to prevent a certain goal.

The Greenbacks got their second when a loose defensive pass meant that Rowley had a free run on goal in the middle of the pitch and he made no mistake, crashing a shot past Hill.

Valley Line-up: Hill; Blythe, Perkins, Edwards; Evans (Blake), Thomas, Bunting, Rankin (Adams), Holloway; Marsden, Tulloch.

Bedworth Line-up: Crane, Sharpe, Gordon, Rowe, Blackmore, Parrott, Minto, Troke, Whitmore, Fitzharris, Brehon. Subs: Albirghton, Rowley, Christie.