Dylan Parker scored four goals as Rugby Town put on a confident display against Cogenhoe United at Butlin Road.

After a more even first half which saw United's Nat Ansu cancel out Parker's well-taken opener, Valley really put their visitors to the sword in the second with Parker striking three more times in an eight-minute spell just after the break before Liam Francis finished the scoring late on.

Valley's starting line-up showed just one change from the one which had cruised to victory at Pinchbeck three days previously with Lee Thomas unavailable due to a family illness - which meant a recall for Justin Marsden and defensive rejig.

The opening goal came on the quarter hour mark after Kurtis Revan had broken upfield quickly to then find Danico Johnson out wide in space, with the resulting cross picking out his strike partner Parker - whose shot on the turn beat Cogenhoe keeper Bradley Lashley for power.

Visiting skipper Jake Gillingwater headed one onto the roof of Town's net ahead of Ansu's equaliser on 31 minutes, which came after the dangerous striker had shown clever feet on the edge of the box before drilling his low shot home.

Johnson then had a powerful effort blocked and Lashley was down well to gather a strike from James Hancocks, with Francis and Parker also both blazing the ball over the bar ahead of the end of the first period.

Rugby started brightly on their return, with Lashley off his line quickly to deny Caine Elliott when he surged free into the penalty area.

Town did regain the lead though after Charlie Evans was adjudged to have been hauled to the floor in the box, and Parker confidently stroke home the spot-kick.

Parker's first time strike to Elliott's cut-back beat Lashley to his right for the hosts' third goal, and then Parker was soon adding his fourth with another low effort this time to the keeper's other side.

Loyiso Recci's looping header bounced off the frame as Valley's dominance continued, with centre-half Francis making it three goals in two games when he pounced on a high loose ball to flick it beyond Lashley with his head before adding a neat finish with five minutes of normal time remaining.

Town keeper Sam Lomax pulled off a good save late on to keep out Ceepy Logongo's close range shot and ensure that his team secured top spot in the early UCL Premier rankings on goal difference in the process.

Valley Line-up: Lomax; Francis, Elliott (Padmore), Recci; Evans, Rosser, Hancocks (O'Neill), Marsden, Revan; Johnson, Parker (C Thomas). Subs: J Thomas, Marsden, Hill. Booked: Francis, O'Neill, Rosser.

Cogenhoe line-up: Lashley, Bates, Hewitt, Culley, Alexander, Gillingwater, Orosz, Johnston, Ansu, Price, Cirelli. Subs: Emery, Logongo, Chamberlain, Speight.