A COMPREHENSIVE win sealed a first double of the season for Rugby Town at the expense of Anstey Nomads.
Carl Adams’ side were ruthless in last weekend’s 3-0 victory over their Leicestershire opponents, with Liam Francis, Danico Johnson and Lee Thomas all getting in on the goalscoring act at Butlin Road.
The result sends Town up to fifth in the United Counties League Premier Division on 30 points, albeit having played a game more than third-placed Loughborough University and four more than leaders Shepshed Dynamo.
A slow start was suddenly kicked into life by Francis’ opener on the half-hour mark.
The defender was well-placed to power home a header from Ryan Seal’s free kick, his fourth goal in the league this term.
And while the game remained in the balance past the hour-mark, two goals in the space of three minutes were a pleasant sight for the crowd of 171 in attendance.
First, a lobbed ball from Thomas into the vicinity of hitman Johnson resulted in the ball being chested down and then dispatched past Taylor McMillan on the volley for his fifth goal in four games.
Thomas then turned scorer to take advantage of a defensive error by winning back possession inside the penalty area before finishing with aplomb.
Making an appearance in the final 15 minutes was the returning Kurtis Revan, who joined Town for a second time from Redditch United last Friday, having previously turned out 20 times for the club in the 2015/16 season.
It puts Valley in good stead for a return to Butlin Road on Saturday (3pm) against Oadby Town – a side who sit 16th in the division.
A win would potentially send Rugby into fourth, depending on the outcome of Deeping Rangers’ clash with Holbeach United.
