Rugby Town fell to their first league defeat of the season after a disappointing performance at home to Shepshed Dynamo.
The Leicestershire visitors looked superior in all areas of the pitch, with Valley failing to land a single significant shot on target throughout the ninety minutes.
Ryan Seal returned to Carl Adams's starting line-up in the only change from the previous weekend's draw at Quorn in place of unavailable skipper Loyiso Recci.
The first shot of the game saw Lee Thomas's always-rising volley drift over the bar, but it was Dynamo that made the brighter start overall - with Valley keeper Matt Hill down well to gather a low strike from Reece Morris and then John King lifted one over from a dangerous position.
Jamal Clarke headed Seal's free-kick wide, before Shepshed were awarded a penalty when Rico Alexander bundled into the back of Morris in the box.
Fortunately for the hosts though, Hill kept out King's spot-kick to maintain the status quo.
A Rugby appeal for a penalty of their own for a challenge on Kieran Fitzgerald was then turned down, with the Town wide man booked for simulation as a result.
As the first half drew to a close, Seal put his effort in the back of the stand.
The home side failed to show any real signs of improvement after the break, and Shepshed continued to look the most likely to break the deadlock.
Reif Armstrong only just missed out on helping home Liam Hurst's cross, and Hill did well to deny Morris at close quarters - with Clarke executing a fine tackle to foil King's attempt to finish off the rebound.
The seemingly inevitable goal came on 71 minutes when Morris's teasing crossfield pass was just too high for Thomas, and Hurst cut inside onto his left foot to fire low past Hill.
The visitors defended their advantage well for the remainder of the game, with Town failing to trouble Dynamo keeper Matty White at all.
Valley
Line-up: Hill; Kavanagh, Thomas, Clarke, Alexander; Elliott, White (Luckie), Seal; Fitzgerald (Koriya), Evans, Marsden (Holloway). Subs not used: Lockley. Booked: Fitzgerald, Alexander.
Shepshed line-up: White, Day, Egginton, Wakeling, Betts, Prenderville, Hurst, Whymark, Morris, King, Armstrong. Subs: White, Moran, Mundell, Dawson, Pryor. |