The visitors took a 2-0 lead within 15 minutes. We found ourselves down to 10 men just before their second goal.

Despite this, we fought back well and brought it back level in the 38th minute.

Owen Betts, who scored our first, saw red which meant we went down to nine men, but level at half time.

The second half was an outstanding display of defensive discipline from the Blues, but Caine Elliot’s 90th minute strike crept through a see of blue bodies and gave Rugby all three points.

Brad Munn made two changes to the side that won 2-0 against Coleshill Town last Saturday.

Lewis King remained in goal and commanded a back line consisting of Betts, Jayden Cotterill, Gianluca Bucci and Elliot Hartmann.

Tristan Thompson-Matthews returned to the starting 11 and began in midfield alongside Coden Duncan and Cieron Keane.

Jahvan Davidson-Miller began out on the wing with James Taylor on the opposite and Evan Garnett through the middle.

The bench featured James Shaw, George Atwal, Jake Finnerty and Dexter Walters.

The game started fast in Rugby’s favour as they took the lead in the third minute. Edward Rowe was slotted through on goal and placed the ball into the bottom left corner.

Bucci was awarded a yellow card in the 8th minute following a late challenge.

Four minutes later, Bucci was awarded a second yellow card for another challenge.

The consequence of that foul lead to Rugby’s second goal as Rowe’s initial free kick was brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar by King, but Josh Thomas followed up and bundled the ball into the net.

Following the goal, Tristan was replaced by Finnerty, and we had a complete backline again.

despite being a man down, we looked the far better side as we pushed hard to get back into the game.

Keane hit the post in the 20th minute and Jahvan got through on goal a minute later but was thwarted by Thomas as he got back and made a goal-saving challenge.

In the 25 minute, Betts received a yellow card following a late challenge.

We won a penalty in the 29th minute after Geoffrey Lundoloki handled the ball in the box.

Evan stepped up and saw his initial effort saved; his follow up shot was also saved but fortunately the ball was headed in by a diving Betts.

Seven minutes later, Lundoloki handled the ball again in the box and we had another penalty.

Evan stepped up again and slotted it home, bringing the game level.

A minute before the break, Betts was sent off. Rivel Mardenborough was through on goal but was brought down by Betts.

Just like the first red, Rowe had a free kick shot strike the cross bar, but this time it did not have a follow up effort.

The second half saw Rugby Town throw everything they had at us as they searched for their third goal of the game.

We held out well as Taylor played immense at centre back, Cotterill put his body on the line multiple times, Jahvan was back tracking his men and King was quite literally a cat as he was here, there and everywhere!

The Blues defended brilliantly as a team and moved together as a single entity, but one moment of fortune separated the two sides.

In the final minutes of the game, the ball fell to Elliot on the edge of the box and he struck it from the centre of the pitch. It ricocheted off a body and found the net catching King off guard.

With a few minutes left, Brad brought Dexter, Shaw and Atwal on for Evan, Duncan and Finnerty.

Unfortunately, the number deficit was too much, and Rugby returned home with all the points.

Our next match is against Wellingborough Town at home next Saturday.

match report: Damion Arnold
match photos: Miguel Luz