MIKEY Taylor scored a brace as Rugby Town moved out of the relegation zone with a crucial 2-1 win against fellow strugglers Cambridge City.
Taylor struck either side of the break to put Valley in command before Mikey Davis scored a late consolation for the visitors at Butlin Road.
And the result means Rugby sit 18th in the Northern Premier League Midlands table, two points clear of Gresley Rovers.
Valley took the lead on 41 minutes when Taylor applied a cool finish from the returning Silvano Obeng’s lay-off.
That came after Town’s debutant goalkeeper Paul Hathaway did well to thwart Dylan Edge and keep the game scoreless.
The home side searched for a second goal as Cambridge goalkeeper Joe Welch made an excellent double save to deny both Taylor and Obeng in quick succession.
However, Taylor grabbed his second of the game on 64 minutes, superbly heading home Chris Clements’ dangerous free-kick.
Valley had a chance to seal the points late on only for Welch to save from MJ Semahimbo when one-on-one.
And Cambridge set up a grandstand finish when Davis found the net on 89 minutes with a clean strike from a short corner after Hathway pushed his initial effort around the post.
The visitors almost drew level at the death when Will Jones curled an effort inches past the post as Valley held on to end their six-game winless run in the league.
Rugby are next in action away at Coventry Sphinx on Saturday, February 17 with kick-off at 3pm at Sphinx Industrial Supplies Arena.
