A David Kolodynski double extended Valley’s unbeaten run to seven matches at Christchurch Meadow.
Kolodynski struck twice within five first half minutes to take his tally for the season to twenty two and earn his side another deserved victory.
Town boss Dale Belford named an unchanged starting line-up a week on from the home draw against rock-bottom Tividale last time out, and his side’s intent was clear from the start, with Kurtis Revan striking the base of the post in the fourth minute after Kevin Thornton had been quick to pounce on some loose play from the home side to thread the ball through to the Rugby wide-man.
Shortly after Revan was denied again – this time by Nailers’ keeper Danny Haystead, who tipped his rising effort over the bar.
The hosts then had a decent chance of their own to open the scoring when Jon Williams’ goal-bound effort was blocked on the line by Chris Tullin, after Rob Stevenson’s initial ball across the face of the goal was pushed away by Valley keeper Sam Andrew.
However the visitors were not fazed by this scare, and they continued to press hard at the other end, with Thornton putting a free-kick from a central position just wide of the target.
The breakthrough came in the 33rd minute when Thornton once more opened up the home defence with an exquisite reverse pass into the path of the in-form Kolodynski, who went on to add an emphatic finish from twelve yards.
The lead was doubled just four minutes later after the Belper defence made three failed attempts to clear a high Callum Powell cross into the box, with the ball eventually falling to Kolodynski to connect with an excellent left footed volley which gave Haystead no chance before nestling into the top corner of the net.
Another searching Thornton pass set Kolodynski free on goal just before half-time, but this time Haystead was down well to keep out the striker’s hat-trick attempt.
In comparison to the first half, the game’s second was a relatively non-event, with Belper struggling to make an impact throughout the period and Rugby seemingly content to sit back and protect their two goal advantage.
Powell had Rugby's only real opportunity of the half when he struck one over the bar from a potentially dangerous position, and Andrew did turn Alex Steadman’s shot into the side netting late in the game for the otherwise lacklustre opposition.
Valley
Line-up: Andrew; Curley, Warburton, Tullin, Ryan; Parker, Towers; Revan (Healy), Powell (Johnson), Thornton; Kolodynski. Subs not used: Wilkins, Delaney, Esso. Booked: None
Belper line-up: Haystead, Allen, Keenan, Wood, Palmer, Watt, Stevenson, Graves, Shannon-Lewis, Williams, Steadman. Subs: Bryant, Armstrong, Parker, Leggitt, Constable.
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