Rugby skipper Alex Gudger's late strike ensured Valley returned to winning ways at Butlin Road against a resolute Marlow.

Valley started well and were soon on the front foot, with Seb Lake-Gaskin missing an early chance.

However on thirteen minutes, Josh O’Grady did open the scoring after a neat team passing move in which Ellis Myles, Lewis McBride and Justin Marsden linked well to create the opportunity.

Keeper Simon Grant then did well to keep out McBride’s low shot, before the visitors struck against the run of play when Simeon Howell applied a good finish to Carl Davies’s through ball.

A Jahson Downes’ shot was blocked as Marlow continued to look dangerous on the break, with Mason Rowley’s header at the other end again testing Grant.

O’Grady’s successful follow-up to McBride’s parried shot was chalked off for offside, although Town were soon back ahead again after Lake-Gaskin got in behind his man to pull the ball back for Marsden to roll home from close range.

Rugby started the second half slowly, but the introduction of David Kolodynski sparked them into life again, and the substitute was soon in the action setting up a great chance for O’Grady, but the midfielder blazed wildly over.

McBride struck the crossbar and Lake-Gaskin also fired one off-target, before Rugby failed to clear their lines and Howell grabbed his second equaliser of the game with a drilled half-volley with just ten minutes remaining.

Valley showed their spirit though, pushing forward in search of a winner, and they got their reward when Gudger was on-hand to force the ball home, after O’Grady’s free-kick had cannoned back of the woodwork.

Valley Line-up: Cooper; Myles, Kelly, Gudger, Rowley; O'Grady, McBride, Spencer, Blythe (Moses-Garvey); Lake-Gaskin (Piggon), Marsden (Kolodynski). Subs not used: Palmer, Youngs. Booked: Rowley.

Marlow line-up: Grant, Whittingham, Lee-Brown, Howell, Richards, Moran, Downes, Hatton, Bartley, Witt, Bennett. Subs: Kerrigan, Richardson, Romeo, Davies, Shanahan .