Jazz Luckie scored a hat-trick as Rugby Town put on a brilliant attacking display to see off a previously unbeaten Wellingborough Town at Butlin Road.
The hosts had raced into a three goal lead by the 25 minute mark and added three more after the break, with striker Jazz Luckie helping himself to a hat-trick in the process.
Carl Adams included his three new signings in his line-up with ex-Stratford Town pair Dylan Parker and James Hancocks featuring from the start in addition to a second debut for midfielder Lewis Hayden.
Parker almost made an instant impact when he flicked wide Charlie Evans's low cross to the near post.
The new arrival was soon back in the thick of the action though when he stole possession high up the pitch and ran at the Wellingborough defence, before pulling the back to Ryan Seal - who steadied himself to fire home the opening goal through keeper Lee Baxter's legs.
Rugby's second came on 21 minutes after Luckie was bundled over in the box by Sam Watkins, with Luckie picking himself up to send Baxter the wrong way from the penalty spot.
It was not long before Seal's beautifully-flighted corner picked out the head of Jamal Clarke to power the ball into the roof of the net to establish a three goal advantage.
The visitors did threaten Town's goal on occasion though, and Matt Hill kept out a Watkins header with a fine reflex save, whilst the final chance of the opening period saw Evans fire over on the turn.
Parker's clipped header to an Evans cross drifted across the face of the goal shortly after the restart. It was four on the hour mark after Parker had again nicked the ball away from a Wellingborough defender to play in Seal - whose deft pass then in turn found Luckie, who made no mistake from six yards.
Liam Francis twice headed away goal-bound efforts from the away side, before they grabbed a goal back when Ryan Lovell curled in an effort from the edge of the area, after Hill had initially done well to save Matt Long's strike.
The Doughboys comeback was shortlived however, when Francis headed home Seal's cross from close range - after the provider's original corner had come back out to him.
Luckie rounded off the scoring from close range on 65 minutes, after Baxter could only push away Fazel Koriya's clipped delivery from the right hand.
Francis blazed over on the turn in the game's closing stages, after his central defensive partner Clarke had nodded the ball down to him.
Valley
Line-up: Hill; L Recci, Francis, Clarke; Koriya, Evans, Hayden (Elliott), Hancocks, Seal (Bako); Parker, Luckie (Kavanagh). Subs not used: White, Thomas. Booked: None.
Wellingborough line-up: Baxter, Watkins, Tuck, McBride, Herbert, Avery, Melling, Buckby, Lovell, Long, Montel. Subs: Barnell, Hynam, Langley, Cox, Daldy. |