Two goals within the opening twenty minutes of the second period secured Town a victory from a tight game at the University Stadium.

Liam Francis continued his excellent run of scoring form to end the deadlock, before Caine Elliott grabbed his first competitive goal for the club to maintain Valley's 100% start to the new league campaign.

Lee Thomas returned to the starting line-up having missed the midweek home win against Cogenhoe, with Justin Marsden dropping back to the bench.

The visitors started brightly and the first chance of the game duly fell to them, when Dylan Parker pounced on a mistake from Loughborough keeper Jake Hilton outside of his penalty area.

Parker then set-up Kurtis Revan for a shot which was blocked, with Hilton recovering to save Parker's follow-up attempt.

Hilton comfortably gathered a Danico Johnson strike from a tight angle, before the students twice went close at the other end - with Eoin McKeown dragging a cross dangerously across the six yard box and Ronan Silva putting one wide from a good position.

Cain Noble and McKeown again had further opportunities for the home side but their efforts lacked conviction, whilst James Hancocks extended Hilton from the edge of the penalty area with a decent strike.

Town's best chance of the opening period fell to Revan, but his shot from point blank range was blocked by a defender, with Sam Lomax called into action in the lead-up to the break when he tipped over a speculative effort from Silva over the bar.

There was also time for Loyiso Recci to head wide a Hancocks' free-kick ahead of the half-time whistle.

The second half was a far more fragmented affair, with Rugby accumulating a total of five yellow cards and goalmouth action at a premium.

The breakthrough came on 51 minutes courtesy of another Hilton error, when he dropped a looping Johnson free-kick from the right to allow Francis to bundle the ball over the line.

University skipper George Wilson sent a free-kick off-target from a threatening central position, just ahead of Town's vital second which came when Elliott coolly side-footed home after Hilton could only parry Parker's initial strike.

Chris Forino headed one wide for the hosts and Marsden blazed one over for Valley in two rare incidents of note that followed, as Rugby comfortably played out remainder of the match.

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

Loughborough line-up: Hilton, Sackey-Mensah, Brennan, Forino, Fadahuni, Rougetel, Silva, Wilson, McKeown, Iaciofano. Subs: Clibbens, Zasiura, Smith, Last, Davies.