Valley’s FA Cup exploits for the season came to a comprehensive conclusion at St.James’ Park, after the National League North hosts struck three times in each half.

With assistant manager John Ramshaw deputising for the absent James Jepson, Rugby’s starting line-up showed two changes from the previous weekend’s defeat at Sheffield with Andy Hall and Daryll Thomas both returning from injury in place of Sam Belcher and the cup-tied Edi Appleton.

The home side’s opening eleven included two ex-Valley favourites Ellis Myles and Alex Gudger, with another couple of one-time Butlin Roaders Lewis Rankin and Shawn Richards on the bench.

Brackley were ahead within twenty seconds when Jason Lee’s initial error saw Myles score against his old club when his cross-shot deflected off Jamie Tank and past Louis Connor.

Thomas did then have a decent chance for the visitors though, after Aiden Print had picked him out with a low cross from the right, but the striker’s shot lacked power and failed to test Saints’ keeper Laurie Walker.

Once Jimmy Armson had doubled the hosts’ lead on twelve minutes by slotting home off the post, the result was never in doubt, and aside from an excellent rising strike by Nathan Fox – which Walker did well to fingertip over the bar, it was virtually attack versus defence for the remainder of the game.

Steve Diggin had twice been denied by good saves from Connor, ahead of snatching Brackley’s third when he volleyed home another Myles’ centre from the right just before the break.

The pattern continued after the restart, with a rampant home side threatening at will, and Lee Ndlovu missed two early chances for them.

Armson hit the bar with a lofted effort from outside of the penalty box, before Diggin added his second on 55 minutes with a neat flick to beat his man and then a powerful strike into the roof of the net.

Rugby substitute Jon Bukasa sent a spectacular volley just wide of the target in a rare foray into the opposition’s half, but it was soon five when Armson got his own double with another strong finish past Connor.

The goal of the game came on 69 minutes though, when Brackley sub David Pitt wrapped up the scoring by curling one into the top corner, with Armson just missing out on a hat-trick on two further occasions – first hitting the woodwork again and then seeing his strike kept out by another save from the besieged Connor.

Valley Line-up: Connor; Print, Fox, Lee (Fishwick), Tank; Hall, Smithson (Bukasa), Gooding, Lavery; Thomas (Akobeto), Kolodynski . Subs not used: Belcher, Bolton, Heath, Walker. Booked: None.

Brackley line-up: L.Walker, Myles, Gudger, Byrne, Graham, Dean, G.Walker, Armson, Ndlovu, Diggin, A.Walker. Subs: Dias, Lowe, Bowen, Moyo, Richards, Rankin, Pitt.