RUGBY Town suffered a penalty shootout defeat against Coleshill Town to exit the Birmingham Senior Cup at the third round stage.
A late goal from Drew Lowe put Valley ahead at Pack Meadow only for Marvellous Onabirekhanlen to equalise for the home side which sent the game to penalties.
And Coleshill triumphed 4-2 in the shootout as home goalkeeper Cameron Belford saved two Rugby penalties.
Valley handed a debut to teenage goalkeeper Xander Grieves and also veteran midfielder Callum Woodward in midfield.
The home side dominated the first half as 16-year-old loanee Grieves made a string of saves to keep the game scoreless.
Grieves continued to star as he also denied Tristan Dunkley after Theo Rowe played the latter clean through on goal.
However, Valley eventually broke the deadlock on 79 minutes when Lowe volleyed in Trey Charles’ deep free-kick from close range to score his first goal for the club.
Coleshill equalised four minutes later as Onabirekhanlen cleverly flicked Ben Usher-Shipway’s cross into the corner of the net.
Grieves made a couple of crucial saves to ensure the game went to penalties only for his opposite number to have the final say.
Coleshill shot-stopper Belford saved spot kicks from Woodward and Charles as the home scored all four off their penalties to dump Valley out of the competition.
Rugby are next in action against Coventry Sphinx on Saturday, February 21 with kick-off at 3pm at the Cameron Slater Arena.
