MADUNDO Semahimbo scored twice as Rugby Town moved 16 points clear at the top of the table with a huge 7-1 win against 10-man Godmanchester Rovers.
Semahimbo came off the bench to score two second-half goals after Luke English, David Kolodynski, Loyiso Recci, Caine Elliott and Jordan Wilson had all found the net at Butlin Road.
The result means Valley lead the United Counties League Premier Division South table by 16 points after closest challengers Coventry Sphinx were beaten at Newport Pagnell Town.
And Rugby needed just 43 seconds to take the lead as English fired a venomous strike in off the underside of the crossbar from the edge of the penalty from Kolodynski’s pass.
English turned provider for Valley’s second of the afternoon on 24 minutes as the wing-back flashed a superb low ball across the face of goal and Kolodynski finished from close range.
And the home side scored their third goal on 38 minutes as captain Recci dispatched a penalty after Wilson was pulled down in the box by Rob Ruddy.
Rovers goalkeeper George Whitehall was sent to the sin bin for dissent following the award of the penalty as Richard Chadwick took the gloves in his absence.
Rugby extended their lead on the stroke of half time when Elliott sent an instinctive lob over Chadwick’s head and into the net after Ruddy’s miscued clearance fell straight at the midfielder’s feet.
However, Godmanchester pulled a goal back with the first attack of the second period when Declan Rogers finished from Mo Hammaz’s cross from the left.
The home side responded with their fifth goal on 52 minutes as Wilson scored for the sixth consecutive match with a deflected strike past reinstalled Rovers keeper Whitehall from Semahimbo’s pass.
And Valley soon had their sixth goal as Semahimbo converted Elliott’s cross from close range just four minutes later.
Things went from bad to worse for Godmanchester on 77 minutes when Matt Green was dismissed for denying Semahimbo a goalscoring opportunity.
However, Semahimbo was not to be denied a second goal as he shrugged off his marker to cut in and score on 84 minutes to complete the rout and secure Valley’s 11th successive league victory.
Rugby are next in action away at Bugbrooke St Michaels on Saturday, February 11 with kick-off at 3pm at The Sett.
