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.

Rugby stormed to an early two-goal advantage with debutant Teddy Rowe coolly finishing Nathan Kabeya's pass on two minutes, before Josh Thomas made sure from close range after the officials hadn't spotted that Long Eaton keeper Lewis King had failed to stop Rowe's excellent free-kick from crossing the line.

In between Town's two strikes, Gianluca Bucci was dismissed for two quickfire bookings, although the ten man Long Eaton then pulled one back when Owen Betts bundled home after Evan Garnett's penalty and subsequent follow-up had been saved by Marcus Bald after Geoffrey Lundoloki had been harshly penalised for a handball.

United levelled shortly after when Lundoloki again committed a handball offence in the area, with Garnett this time scoring from the spot.

But the hosts soon found themselves two players light when Betts also walked for two clear yellow-card offences.

Unsurprisingly, with 11v9 the second period was basically a case of attack versus defence played out almost exclusively in the Long Eaton half, and following a series of close escapes, Elliott's deflected strike from the edge the box finally beat Lewis King to secure the points.

Full report to follow.

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.