Rugby Town exited the Isuzu FA Trophy at the first hurdle in comprehensive fashion at a sweltering Butlin Road against Grantham Town.
For the second weekend running, Valley lacked creativity in falling to a knock-out competition defeat, with Edwin Ahenkorah's 67th-minute consolation strike a rare attacking highlight for the hosts.
With Massiah McDonald and Roger Lee both unavailable due to international duty commitments, Jordan Wilson and Karabo Motshweni were back into the Town starting line-up, and new signing Courtney Lashley made his debut at left wing-back in place of Dan Summerfield.
It was a quiet start to the tie, as the two fellow NPL regional sides felt each other out, but the visitors scored with the first opportunity of the game after Rodrigo Goncalves robbed Kyle Burke on the wing before crossing for one-time Rugby striker Gregg Smith to coolly roll the ball home on fifteen minutes.
An Ethan Bojang long-throw then bounced wide off Kuwesi Ofushine as Grantham threatened to add a second goal shortly after, before Town rallied a little with Wilson and Loyiso Recci both volleying off-target.
A Rico Taylor strike from distance was blocked in a further chance for Rugby, but Luke Hinsey was soon making it two-nil when he ran onto to Ofushine's assist to shoot home through Matt Hill's legs.
Ofushine's acrobatic effort was taken high by Hill, as the hosts continued to struggle, with a dangerous Elliot Walker delivery from out wide fizzing across the face of Valley's goal.
The home side ended the first half in a relatively bright manner though, with Ryan Sahota's lively run towards the Gingerbreads' box halted illegally on its edge - only to see Taylor lift the resulting set-piece harmlessly over the bar.
Sahota's well-executed overhead-kick also threatened the Grantham goal after Lashley had skipped into the penalty area, and Rugby started the new period in a positive fashion too with Wilson heading wide a Motshweni free-kick and Lashley lifting one over after another encouraging run.
However, the visitors grabbed a crucial third just past the hour mark, when their substitute Harry Olivant stooped to head home Goncalves's cross, after the winger had been given too much time and space on the left hand side.
Ahenkorah's first goal of the season after fellow sub Alex Lock had passed the ball to him, with Ahenkorah then showing good strength to hold off his marker before turning and sending a low strike beyond Curtis Hall.
Any hope for Town soon disappeared though, after Recci was adjudged to have fouled Sam Muggleton in the box to allow Smith to double his personal tally from the spot and restore Grantham's three-goal advantage in the process.
With the game all but settled, Goncalves then lifted a good chance over the frame, whilst Wilson screwed one wide at the other end.
The final goal of the game came with just two minutes of normal time remaining, when Bojang was the first to react to Hill's save to a Goncalves strike to volley low into the net.
Lock cleared the stand with a late chance for Town, with a dangerous Wilson cross gathered at the near post by Hall, as Rugby's Trophy trail once more came to an early end.
Valley
Line-up: Hill; Rosser, Burke (Summerfield), Francis; Recci, Lashley, Fitzharris, Taylor (Lock), Motshweni; Sahota (Ahenkorah), Wilson. Subs not used: Kear, English, Thomas. Bookings: Recci, Lock, Wilson.
