Highgate 2-0 Rugby

Rugby Town were beaten in their second pre-season friendly at MFL Premier side Highgate United.

With the main stadium pitch not available at Tythe Barn Lane, the game was played on the field outside the ground with two second half defensive slip-ups gifting the hosts the pre-season victory.

With new signings Dan White, Ryan Seal and Kieran Fitzgerald all unavailable as well as with Justin Marsden, Eli Bako and Richard Bunting, Carl Adams named a squad including a number of prospects and trialists with starts for academy pair Kyle Tott and Caine Elliott.

There was a first sighting of new defender Jamal Clarke for Rugby who should have led early on but striker Jazz Luckie took too long to pull the trigger after good work to find himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

The hosts grew into the game stronger in the first half and goalkeeper Matt Hill had to make a smart low save to prevent ex-Valley striker Stuart Hendrie from opening the scoring.

The second half became more scrappy in the second half on the difficult playing surface but it was Highgate who got the breakthrough when Loyiso Recci was caught out trying to shepherd the ball out of the play allowing a simple finish for Connor Doyle.

Substitute Sam Lockley missed a sitter from close range with the goalkeeper saving with his legs before Highgate doubled their lead with academy man Adbul Korona this time having the ball taken off him inside his own penalty area before ex-Rugby defender Conor Wright tapped in from close range.

Valley Line-up: Matt Hill, Kyle Tott, Lee Thomas, Jamal Clarke, Liam Francis, Loyiso Recci (c), Caine Elliott, Harry Holloway, Charlie Evans, Jazz Luckie, Trialist. Subs: Daviel Kavanagh, Sam Lockley, Lewis Padmore, Adbul Korona, Trialists.