Caine Elliott's late strike finally saw off a valiant rearguard effort from the nine-men of Long Eaton United.

The result represented a fourth successive win in the NPL Midlands for Grant Joshua's men in an action-packed game which saw five goals, two red cards, two penalties and of course a last-minute winner.

After three successive unchanged starting line-ups, Town boss Grant Joshua made two changes to his opening eleven - one forced by the unavailability of skipper Sam Tye, which meant a debut in midfield for new signing Teddy Rowe and the other seeing Stan Anaebonam preferred to Cairo Taylor in a wide attacking role.

There was a place on the bench for the week's other new arrival - the returning Trey Charles.

Town made the perfect start against one of last year's play-off participants when Nathan Kabeya's perfectly-directed through pass found debutant Rowe and the ex-Aston Villa prospect coolly slotted the ball home past keeper Lewis King.

Evan Garnett tested Marcus Bald not long after with a low shot on the turn, which the Valley stopper was equal too, before Greg Tempest put his free-kick straight at King.

United defender Gianluca Bucci had been booked in the award of that free-kick and just four minutes later he received his marching orders for a second caution for fouling Rowe on the edge of the area.

Rowe picked himself up to take that set-piece and his impressive effort was pushed onto the post by King, before appearing to bounce down over the line - although the referee only signalled for a goal after Josh Thomas had made sure by smashing the ball into the net from close range.

Despite being two-nil down and a player light, the hosts then took the game to Rugby, with James Taylor dragging a dangerous low strike across the face of the goal, and then Thomas executing a great tackle to thwart ex-Valley striker Jahvan Davidson-Miller as he was poised to shoot after Garnett had played him in.

Cieron Keane then struck the base of the post, as the chances continued to come for Long Eaton, with the same player's strike for them from distance looping up off a Valley body for a corner.

The home side got themselves back in it after Geoffrey Lundoloki was penalised for a handball in the box after the ball had bounced up onto his arm.

Bald managed to save Garnett's initial spot-kick and his follow-up attempt, but defender Owen Betts was on-hand to bundle the ball over the line.

Garnett blazed one over, before another handling transgression from Lundoloki gave the striker a second chance from twelve yards, and this time he made no mistake by burying his penalty into the bottom left corner.

Betts then joined his team-mate for an early bath with one minute of the half remaining, when he too received a second yellow card of the afternoon after his late challenge on Rivel Mardenborough took the striker down as he bore down on goal - adding to the booking he had received earlier for a similarly reckless tackle on Anaebonam.

Rowe stepped up to take this free-kick too, and he managed to rattle the crossbar this time with another sweetly-struck effort.

Pretty much the entire second period was predictably played out in the Long Eaton half, as the game became a matter of attack versus defence, with Town attempting to break down a resilient, well-organised Long Eaton back-line.

Chance after chance came Valley's way, as the visitors moved the ball from wing to wing looking for a chink in the United armour.

Anaebonam's cross from the left not long after the restart was missed by Elliott and then bounced off Mardenborough at close quarters.

Kabeya lifted one way over the bar, Mardenborough headed Eliiott's cross wide from a decent central position and King pulled off a comfortable save to deny Rowe another goal.

The introduction of Charles on the hour mark gave Rugby further impetus, and last season's top scorer was soon creating problems down the right hand side.

A Charles strike was blocked after he had burst into the box from the wing, before King did well to keep out Elliott's shot.

Charles then set up Mardenborough, but King was again dealt with the attempt by pushing it over the bar, and a further Charles low cross saw Mardenborough just blocked out.

King made an inspired save when managing to reach up from the ground to keep one out from Rowe, followed by a more regulation stop to gather Charles's shot.

Subs Callum Griffin and Dan Organ then both had opportunities to score, with Griffin's rising strike saved and Organ lifting one over from close range.

Thomas missed a glorious chance when somehow helping the ball over from a few yards after Charles had picked him out with a corner, before Kabeya's powerful twenty-five yard effort was kept out by the strong hands of King.

Just as it was looking like Valley would be denied the victory and with 90 minutes on the clock, the ball fell nicely for Elliott on the edge and his shot took a telling deflection off sub George Atwal to wrong foot King and divert into the net to the joyful relief of the Valley faithful behind the goal.

Valley Line-up: Bald; Kabeya, Lundoloki (Taylor 71'), Thomas, McNeil; Tempest (Organ 78'), Elliott, Rowe; Anaebonam (Griffin 60'), Nee (Charles 60'), Mardenborough. Subs not used: Adegoke. Booked: Elliott.

Long Eaton Line-up: King, Betts, Hartmann, Duncan, Cotterill, Bucci, Davidson-Miller, Keane, Garnett, Thompson-Matthews, Taylor. Subs: Finnerty, Walters, Atwal, Shaw.