Valley were soundly beaten in the Birmingham Senior Cup at Southern League Premier Central side Leamington.

Rugby's depleted squad were comfortably brushed aside by the confident higher-league hosts, who in the process gained revenge for their defeat in the pre-season friendly between the two sides at Butlin Road back in July.

There was a first Town start for Omreike Myles in midfield, where he was joined by club captain Barry Fitzharris - who was able to play in the middle of his four-match ban from league fixtures.

The hosts were on their game from the off, with Will Shorrock having an early attempt on goal saved by Nykah Liburd-Hines, and then they took the lead on nine minutes when ex-Valley youth teamer Cally Stewart scored from distance - with Liburd-Hines allowing the ball to squirm in off his body.

Tyrone Barnett's well-struck effort was this time gathered by the Town keeper, before the game was halted for a lengthy delay which saw Leamington's Junior English stretchered off after the home defender had fallen heavily from an aerial challenge.

When the game restarted, Rugby continued to struggle to retain the ball though and the hosts doubled the lead after Jiah Medrano left several Valley defenders in his wake before feeding Henry Landers for a simple finish.

Barnett fired another chance over, before the Brakes made it three on 37 minutes when Stewart grabbed his second of the evening when followed up on a rebound to a blocked header by Jack Edwards to force the ball over the line.

A rare attacking highlight from Town then saw Josh Thomas's header to Claudio Dias's flighted free-kick taken by Leamington keeper Callum Hawkins, and the home side missed out on a number of further chances to extend their lead before the interval - with Barnett in particular unlucky not to get himself on the scoresheet.

The half-time break provided mere temporary respite for Valley though, and the hosts continued their assault soon after the restart with Medrano shooting wide and Ewan Williams heading one against the crossbar.

Stewart nearly completed his hat-trick when his free-kick flew narrowly wide of the post, before Hawkins was briefly called back into action when comfortably catching a Jordan Wilson strike.

Barnett finally got reward for his endeavours with Leamington's fourth by scrambling home Dan Meredith's cross and the same player converted another delivery from out wide when he headed in to complete the scoring on 76 minutes.

Valley Line-up: Liburd-Hines; Summerfield, Kear (Francis), Mace, Thomas; Dias, Myles (Sahota), Fitzharris; Wilson, Lashley, Obeng (Kolodynski). Subs not used: None. Bookings: Thomas.

Leamington Line-Up: Hawkins, Meredith, Medrano, Williams, English, Streete, Landers, Edwards, Stewart, Barnett, Shorrock. Subs: Baldwin, Moore, Nicoll, Taylor, Walker.