A goal either side of half time strengthened Rugby’s outside chance for a play-off place with a relatively comfortable victory over struggling Goole on a sticky Butlin Road pitch.

Manager Dale Belford kept faith with the team who had won impressively against Coalville four days previously, and the game started slowly with neither side making their presence felt.

The visitors were marginally edging the opening period though, and they had the first effort on goal in the 18th minute when Billy Law saw his strike hit the post with Sam Andrew seemingly beaten in the Rugby goal.

Goole thought they had taken the lead just after the half hour mark but the effort was ruled out after a clear offside, with Rugby having to wait until the 33rd minute for their first sight on goal, when Mitchell Piggon's low shot from close range was comfortably saved by Daniel Waring.

Town made the vital breakthrough just ahead of the interval though, when Callum Powell's pace got him to the byeline, and he squared the ball to find Kevin Thornton in space in the area, and he applied a composed finish from ten yards out.

The second half started as well as the first one had ended for Valley, when on 47 minutes Rob Parker found the net for the second successive game.

The goal came from a ball by Mattias Curley into the danger zone, with Parker beating Waring with an decent looping header, although perhaps the away keeper will have thought he could have done more to stop it.

Rugby were now in complete control creating plenty of chances to increase their lead in the ever worsening rain. Thornton had his scuffed shot saved, and substitute Kurtis Revan also put in a powerful shot but this was punched away from danger.

Defender Tom James saw his audacious shot hit the bar from a wide angle, and Piggon nearly pounced onto a spill from Waring.

Substitute Nathan Joynes almost grabbed a late consolation for Goole, but was denied by Andrew's tip over.

Valley Line-up: Andrew; Curley, James, Tullin, Ryan; Parker, Towers; Thorpe (Revan), Powell, Thornton (Kolodynski); Piggon (Johnson). Subs not used: Healy, Delaney. Booked: None.

Goole Line-up: Waring, Greasley, Taylor, Foster, Colbear, Varley, Law, Robson, Joynes, Booth, Moxam. Subs: Guest, Stannard, Johnson, Morris, Kay.