RUGBY Town’s relegation from the Northern Premier League Midlands was confirmed following an Easter Monday defeat at Mickleover.
Only a win would have kept Valley’s slim survival hopes alive at the Don Amott Arena as Rugby suffered a 4-1 defeat.
Wins elsewhere for Loughborough Students and Bourne Town, and a draw for Bedworth United, coupled with Rugby’s defeat resigned Valley to relegation.
The results bring an end to Rugby’s three-season stay in the Northern Premier League Midlands after the club received a reprieve from relegation last term.
Defeat at the Don Amott Arena saw Valley lose for the sixth successive game with the club winless in 12 matches since the end of January.
Rugby made the worst possible start to the must-win clash when Josh Thomas inadvertantly turned the ball into his own net inside the first minute.
A low ball into the box from the right from Luke McCormick deflected off Valley goalkeeper Charlie Woods and then Thomas as the ball ended up in the back of the net.
And Mickleover doubled their lead on five minutes as Andy Dales curled a shot into the net from just inside the penalty area.
However, Valley halved the deficit on 11 minutes when Rivel Mardenborough rounded Mickleover goalkeeper Jason Alexander and finished into an empty net from Harrison Nee’s through ball.
Mickleover restored their two-goal cushion on 54 minutes as Manni Norkett raced onto a through ball and beat Charlie Woods at the second attempt.
And the home side completed the scoring seven minutes from time when substitute Josh Carter lobbed the ball over a stranded Woods from a tight angle following a long ball down the pitch from Alexander.
That came after Valley lost 3-0 at home against Anstey Nomads as the promotion chasers proved too strong for Grant Joshua’s side.
Anstey broke the deadlock on 11 minutes when Oscar Tonge fired an angled shot past Woods.
And Nomads doubled their lead on 74 minutes as Tendai Chitiza powered a shot into the roof of the net after good feet from substitute Ronnie Kokkinos.
The visitors sealed the points six minutes from time when Courey Graham’s strike deflected off Valley defender Archie Murray and past a wrong-footed Woods.
Rugby are next in action against Wellingborough Town on Saturday, April 11 with kick-off at 3pm at Butlin Road.
