Valley made it two away wins in three days thanks to Seb Lake-Gaskin's second half penalty at Potters Bar.

Valley were good value for the three points, but having spurned a number of good goalscoring opportunities – in the first half in particular – there was always the threat that the generally uninspiring hosts would snatch something from the game until Lake-Gaskin kept his cool from the spot.

There were rare starts for Steve Palmer and Michael Williams in place of the injured Jamie Towers and the unavailable Richard Blythe, and Rugby started well with David Kolodynski having an early chance – but his shot from the edge of the area was easily saved by George Kamurasi. Greg Kaziboni then fed Lake-Gaskin, but he curled wide, before Kolodynski struck the post with his lobbed effort after a long ball from Alex Gudger.

Kaziboni was also well-placed when he lobbed high of the target, as the visitors pushed hard for a reward for their first half dominance. The referee then turned a Rugby penalty appeal for a foul on Kolodynski, before the same player was just crowded out in the box after a neat through-ball by Lake-Gaskin.

The opening exchanges of the second half saw another gilt-edged Valley chance go begging, when Gudger somehow headed Palmer’s cross straight at Kamurasi from only a couple of yards out.

Another penalty appeal was waived away – this time for a challenge on Nathan Haines, before Potters Bar had their best chance of the game when Tobi Akinjirrin forced Niall Cooper into a great save at the near post.

Kamurasi then did well to keep out a Kolodynski free-kick, before Valley finally saw a penalty decision go their way when Matt Clifford took out Kolodynski.

Despite Kamurasi’s best efforts to put Lake-Gaskin off ahead of the kick, the striker stepped up to confidently and powerfully strike home into the corner of the net.

The home side’s direct approach thereafter did exert some pressure on the Rugby defence, but they dealt effectively with most of the challenges that came their way – although substitute Cole Penny did go close with a lob from distance which ultimately drifted over the bar.

Valley Line-up: Cooper; Myles, Fox, Haines, Gudger; Kaziboni, Williams, Palmer, McBride; Kolodynski, Lake-Gaskin,. Subs not used: Beastall, Rowley. Booked: None.

Potters Bar line-up: Kamurasi, Close, Clifford, Bowditch, Simms, Duncan, Harrison-Barker, Hutchinson, Akinjirrin, Robins, Lane. Subs: Penny, Hamdan, Ailey, Friend, Morgan . .