The first ever Rugby Derby ended in defeat for Rugby Town as Lindon Meikle's 76-minute header settled a dour contest at Butlin Road.

It was a predictably tense affair in front of a crowd of 1,169 at Butlin Road but the hosts had definitely looked the more purposeful proposition ahead of Meikle's winner - which represented Borough's only attempt on goal of the whole game.

Town's best opening of the first-half saw Harrison Nee's first-time volley from close quarters fly over after Rivel Mardenborough had headed the ball onto him, with Mardenborough himself having a shot on the turn deflected away for a corner by Oran Jackson ahead of the interval.

In between Valley's two opportunities, the visitors' claim for a penalty when Aaron Nuttall went to ground after a challenge from Nathan Kabeya was turned down, but generally the Town defence coped comfortably with any Borough threat.

There was even less goalmouth action of note after the break, although Borough keeper Sam Lomax did do well to tip over Jack Concannon's rising strike from the edge of the box just past the hour.

The visitors then executed their smash-and-grab manoeuvre to perfection, when Meikle smartly headed home Ellis Myles' cross from the right, and Town failed to properly trouble a well-organised Borough back-line after this, with Kabeya having two chances late-on - but his first shot lacked power and then later he blazed one way over the bar.

Full report to follow.

Valley Line-up: Bald; Kabeya, Lundoloki Thomas, McNeil; Elliott, Rowe, Griffin, Concannon (Taylor 85' (Organ 90')); Nee (Charles 46'), Mardenborough. Subs not used: Dulgheru, Adegoke. Booked: McNeil, Nee, Griffin, Rowe.