Rugby Town were left devastated by a fortuitous late goal despite a battling defensive display at league leaders Spalding United.
Glenn Walker's 86th minute strike condemned Valley to their third straight defeat of 2024, after they had withstood long periods of pressure from the hosts with a solid rearguard display.
Liam Francis and Chris Clements replaced James Mace and Roger Lee in Town's opening line-up for their longest league away trip of the season, and the visitors put in a relatively assured start to the game with the wind in their favour.
There was little of note in terms of shots on goals from either side in the opening quarter of an hour though, with a well-timed tackle by Francis to thwart Callum Westwood's run into the box the only real attacking highlight.
Dan Summerfield also snuffed out a promising burst through by United's new signing Sam Bennett, before Spalding almost took the lead when Nathan Stainfield trickled a decent chance wide at the back post.
Town keeper Tom Bukowski then saved his team with a decent body save to Riley O'Sullivan's effort after the hosts had countered rapidly.
Madundo Semahimbo's sighter represented Rugby's first shot of the evening after the wide-man had jinked threateningly forward, and the same player then sent one well off-target following neat build-up play between Justice Campbell and Ryan Sahota.
Another good opportunity fell for Town when Jordan Wilson ran onto Josh Thomas's searching long ball, but Wilson could only help the bouncing ball wide of the frame.
United ended the half well though, with Walker clipping the top of the bar, O'Sullivan's strike saved by Bukowski at the near post and a surge forward by ex-Valley man Sam Warburton ending with a shot that drifted just wide.
Bukowski was a busy man once the game kicked-off again for the new half, with a decent near post save denying O'Sullivan and an even better one to keep out Stanfield's header at close quarters shortly after that.
The Rugby keeper also did well to just tip away a crossed ball from Bennett, with Walker dragging a further chance wide, as Town struggled to get out of their own half for a significant period of play.
Francis's excellent saving header at the back post cleared a dangerous Joe Curtis cross, with another centre - this time from Warburton - also scrambled away.
As the full-time whistle approached, the game became a more scrappy affair and just as it looked like Town's resilience may have earnt them a point, Walker's scooped a cross from the right over the head of Bukowski and into the net.
Valley nearly managed to salvage a draw after Walker's cruel hammer-blow though, when Wilson was denied on the goal-line after Drew Kear had helped Campbell's defence splitting pass across a crowded box.
