RELEGATION-threatened Rugby Town failed to end their winless run following a 1-0 defeat away at AFC Rushden and Diamonds.
A second-half goal from Nathan Burrows saw Valley’s winless run stretch to seven matches at Hayden Road.
And the result means Rugby sit 20th in the Northern Premier League Midlands relegation zone, seven points from safety.
Both teams struggled to find any fluency on a pitch covered in sand following weeks of cold and wet weather.
Valley went close early on as Trey Charles fired a shot into the side netting from a tight angle.
At the other end, Paul Hathaway made a fine save low down to keep out Jamal Adams’ free-kick while Charlie Green headed wide from a corner.
The two teams continued to trade chances as Diamonds goalkeeper Adam Harrison rushed off his line to deny Charles a clear sight of goal.
And Harrison then kept out Charles’ header from Harrison Nee’s flick-on from a corner.
Rushden pressed for an opener in the second period as Hathaway comfortably saved Tejan Thomas’s low shot.
The game’s only goal came in bizarre fashion on 70 minutes when Green’s low cross from the left hit Burrows while he lay on the ground and ended up in the net.
Hathaway then denied Adams before Valley survived a goalmouth scramble following a corner.
The visitors searched for a late equaliser as Harrison saved Jahvan Davidson-Miller’s snapshot before substitute Silvano Obeng saw his header cleared off the line from a corner.
And Charles went through one-on-one with Harrison late on but could not find a way past the Rushden goalkeeper.
Rugby are next in action against Hinckley LRFC on Saturday, Feburary 15 with kick-off at 3pm at Butlin Road.
