Southern League Premier Central side Bromsgrove Sporting handed Valley their first defeat of pre-season at Butlin Road.

After four wins on the road, this was the first outing at home for Rugby's new-look side and they generally held their own against a Bromsgrove side that operate two leagues higher than Valley and after an overhaul in the summer are expected to challenge for National League promotion this season.

Ollie Harrison headed the Rouslers into a first half lead before Jake Jervis doubled the advantage from the penalty spot early in the second half.

Rivel Mardenborough pulled one back midway through the half but Sporting held out to continue their own 100% start to pre-season at the expense of Rugby's.

The Valley side were missing Steph Morley, Jake Duffy and Ryan Bridgewater due to holiday while goalkeeper Ash Bodycote returned.

Billy Shaw had a couple of early chances for Sporting including a shot that struck the crossbar before Brad Bood hit the side netting from inside the area.

The deadlock was broken after 30 minutes, as a Chris Hussey corner was headed by Jamille Matt into the path of Harrison, who produced his own header to power the ball home.

Sporting could have easily added to their tally late in the first half as further chances came the way of Jervis and Dan Trickett-Smith who both tested Ash Bodycote in the Rugby goal before Shaw, Simeon Maye and Hayden Reeves all had opportunities of their own to add to the scoreline.

Bodycote's errant pass out resulted in Harrison Nee bringing down Shaw in the penalty area and Jervis sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot to double the visitors' advantage.

Rugby were threatening going forwards without a final product until Mardenborough ran onto Charlie Tilley's ball forwards and showed composure to manoeuvre away from the stranded Sporting goalkeeper Tony Breeden before lifting the ball into the net from 35 yards out on the angle.

Ryan Boothe squandered a gilt-edged chance late on to grab an equaliser but he could only lift his eight-yard effort unmarked from the middle of the goal over the bar after Jake Wormleighton had nodded the ball into his path from a Louis Samuels centre.

Valley Line-up: Bodycote; Scott, Ashmore, Richards, Wormleighton; O'Sullivan, Nee; Samuels, Nuttall, Mardenborough. Subs used: Tye, Boothe, Petkovic, Dulgheru, Cooper.