RUGBY Town shipped five goals in a heavy 5-2 home defeat against promotion-chasing Long Eaton United.
The visitors raced into a three-goal lead as Evan Garnett, Owen Betts and James Shaw all struck inside the first half-hour at Butlin Road.
Rugby responded with two quickfire goals of their own as teenage debutant Lucas Stanley and Trey Charles cut the deficit to a single goal at the break.
However, Long Eaton struck twice after the break to seal the points as Andrew Wright and Betts netted to condemn Valley to defeat.
The result means Rugby sit 19th in the Northern Premier League Midlands table, four points from safety with five matches left to play.
Long Eaton broke the deadlock on seven minutes as Garnett poked the ball home from close range following some pinball in the box.
And the visitors doubled their lead on 22 minutes when Gianluca Bucci’s powerful cross hit Betts and went into the net.
The away side all but sealed the points on the half-hour mark as Shaw fired a low shot under Valley goalkeeper Paul Hathaway.
However, Rugby kept themselves in the contest four minutes later when 17-year-old Stanley flicked in Charles’ cross at the near post moments after coming off the bench.
And Valley struck again on 37 minutes as Charles kept his cool from the penalty spot after Long Eaton goalkeeper Lewis King fouled Harrison Nee in the box.
Long Eaton regained control of the game after the interval before Wright restored the away side’s two-goal cushion on 56 minutes with a strike from the edge of the penalty area.
And the visitors made sure of the points five minutes from time as Betts sent a dipping volley into the net from 25-yards out.
Rugby are next in action against Quorn on Saturday, April 5 with kick-off at 3pm at Farley Way.
