Battling VS beaten by 80th minute goal; Redditch United 1 VS Rugby 0.

Under-seige VS eventually succumbed to wave after wave of United attacks at the Valley stadium.

Rob Smith's strike ten minutes from time condemned Martin Socket's much improved side to their first Midland Division defeat in four outings.

The VS defence looked to have weathered the storm until United skipper Smith drilled home through a crowded penalty area following a long throw in the 80th minute.

VS' best effort of the match came with their first venture forward when Paul John fired over from the edge of the area in the second minute.

From there onwards VS spent most of the match on the back foot and struggled to contain United's lively front men. Peter Sutton missed a sitter in the 13th minute, lifting the ball over the VS bar from eight yards, and two minutes later the United striker got in the way of Smith's goalbound effort.

Smith went close with numerous efforts, and Neil Manton, Ross Knight and substitute Matt Pugh were all unlucky not to get their names on the scoresheets. VS substitute Andy Johnson almost grabbed a surprise equaliser with an opportunist 30 yard effort which dropped narrowly over the cross bar in the 85th minute.

``I thought we defended really well,'' said Sockett. ``It wasn't a great game to watch but they got that little bit of luck that mattered.''

VS Rugby: Wood, Shea, Evans (Johnson, 75 mins), Sullivan, John, Machin, Hamer, Beckett (Wiseman, 70 mins), Warner, Agar, Murphy. Sub Not Used: Green.