Rugby Town made it three wins on the spin but had to see off a late surge from mid-table Chalfont St Peter at Butlin Road.

Valley manager Dave Stringer made just one change from the victory the previous week at Marlow, with Justin Marsden back in the starting line-up in place of Lewis Rankin – who was relegated to the bench.

Chalfont looked the livelier in the opening exchanges, and Aaron Landsiquot had the best chance for the visitors but his effort from point blank range cleared the crossbar.

Generally it was a slow start to the game though, with both sides finding it hard to create clear cut openings.

Seb Lake Gaskin had Rugby’s first effort on target, but saw his relatively weak shot comfortably saved by Mike McEntegart.

The Saints' pacey winger Glen Yala looked lively, and he produced a decent cross for Terrel Lewis - but the midfielder saw his effort go wide of the post.

Valley keeper Richard Morris also had to be alert to snuff out a goalbound shot from Adam Louth.

However Town took an unexpected lead just before half time when Lake-Gaskin's perfect through pass found Gregory, who went on to unleash an unstoppable shot past the helpless McEntegart.

Lake-Gaskin and Gregory were both denied with lobbed efforts at the start of the second half, before Rugby doubled their lead on the hour mark.

The goal came after Marsden had brilliantly skipped past two men on the right hand side of the area, before sending over a cross for Gregory to head home his second.

With fifteen minutes to go, Richard Blythe nearly got on the scoring act with a thunderous shot which was saved well by the busy McEntegart.

However, having looked down and out, Chalfont then gave themselves a glimmer of hope in the 83rd minute, when Aaron Lansiquot pounced on an error by Mason Rowley to outrun the defence and coolly side-foot past Morris.

Substitutes Rankin and Fazel Koriya both saw late chances go begging for Rugby, with Chalfont almost snatching a point at the death - but defender Adam Pepera headed wide a glorious opportunity at the far post following a stoppage-time corner.

Valley Line-up: Morris; Grocott, Kelly, Rowley, Gudger; Burns, Blythe; Marsden (Koriya), Lake-Gaskin (Rankin), Youngs; Gregory (Piggon). Subs not used: George, Banks. Booked: Youngs.

Chalfont line-up: McEntegart, Clarke, Waldren, Pepera, Grayley, Louth, Stead, Lewis, Yala, Payne, Lansiquot. Subs: Connor, Pearce, Stephenson, Silcot, Benmakdani.