Valley recorded their third successive pre-season draw in their behind closed doors friendly against Midland Football League outfit Highgate at Butlin Road.

The hosts had the better of the first half, and could have easily opened the scoring on a few occasions, but it was a tighter affair after the interval - ultimately leading to a stalemate conclusion.

Town boss Carl Adams opted to start once more with Sam Lomax between the sticks as part of a opening eleven showing just one change from the Gresley encounter four days earlier - with Justin Marsden replacing James Hancocks in midfield.

The first real chance of the game fell to Rugby defender Liam Francis, but he could only head Ryan Seal's corner straight at the Highgate keeper Sean Butler.

Cameron Shaw did then clip the top of Lomax's crossbar, but it was mainly the home side on top for the rest of the period.

Dylan Parker had a shot from a tight angle tipped over the frame when he perhaps had better options inside of him and Seal was denied by the legs of Butler when he through on goal.

Parker and Loyiso Recci did have further opportunities for Town shortly after the restart, but the visitors found their way a bit more with Lomax's half-time replacement Matt Hill doing well to gather Ant Smith's well-struck free-kick.

The closest Valley came to breaking the deadlock in the remainder of the half saw sub Lewis Padmore's effort deflected just over after neat interchange play on the edge of the box.

Valley Line-up: Lomax (Hill); Francis, Elliott, Recci; L Thomas (Hanks), Evans, C Thomas (J Thomas), Marsden (Hancocks), Seal; Johnson, Parker (Padmore).