Valley put on an exciting pre-season display to beat Kettering Town in an eight-goal thriller at Latimer Park.

The game was the first of a two-legged friendly cup competition 'The Newlands Shield' with the second leg being played at Butlin Road on Tuesday.

After the defeat at Sutton Coldfield in midweek Valley welcomed back defenders Jason Lee and Aiden Print to the striker line-up as well as winger Louis Hamilton while there was a first appearance of pre-season for ex-Coalville striker Jake Woolley.

Rugby found their shooting boots from the off as captain and former Kettering midfielder Andy Gooding converted an early penalty against his former side within minutes of the kick-off.

Valley started strongly and had good possession early on forcing a number of corners but the Southern League Premier hosts started to get a grip on the game and they got themselves an impressive equaliser after a slick move through the middle of the Rugby defence ending with Liam Canavan lobbing goalkeeper Louis Connor from the edge of the area.

Rugby regained the lead just before half time as midfielder Sam Belcher picked out the run of David Kolodynski on the right hand side of the area and the striker's cross was met by the onrushing Richard Lavery to head home from close range.

Jordan Wilson equalised for the hosts near the start of the second half as he directed a low cross into the net after from the left hand side before Valley struck with two quick-fire goals in response.

Firstly former Poppy Lee rose to nod in Belcher's inswinging cross after a short corner before a far more route one effort resulted in the fourth goal as Connor's long kick out of his hands was poorly dealt with by the Kettering defence allowing Woolley to mark his first appearance with a goal slotting in from inside the penalty area.

Again Kettering found joy down their left hand side as tricky winger Wilson Carvalho cut inside and found space to fire a low shot past Connor into the net.

The scoring was completed when another two former Kettering players combined as Nathan Fox's superb charging run down the left hand side resulted in a low cross which Kolodynski steered into the net.

Valley Line-up: Connor; Print, Fox, Lee, Tank; Gooding, Lavery, Belcher; Hamilton, Woolley, Kolodynski. Subs used: Ryan, Moulton, Jepson.