Rugby Town finally picked up a point with a hard-fought draw away at AFC Rushden and Diamonds.
After six straight league defeats, Valley knew a seventh against their fellow strugglers would see them drop to the very bottom of the table, but Jordan Wilson's second-half equaliser maintained the three-point gap between the sides by the end.
David Kolodynski made his first start since returning from his wrist injury, with Ryan Sahota also on from the off in place of Karabo Motshweni and Courtney Lashley.
Town made a bright start at an equally bright Hayden Road ground, and Kolodynski was soon making an impact on his return forcing Diamonds' keeper George Rose into a neat save to his low shot after he had cut in on Caine Elliott's pass.
Elliott put an angled free-kick into the defensive wall, before the same player had a shot deflected wide for a corner after Silvano Obeng had set him up.
Rugby's dominance then continued, with Liam Francis having a header caught by Rose, and Sahota firing one off-target after he had surged onto Kolodynski's pass.
Luis Pinto Leite had earlier volleyed wide for the home side, but it was definitely against the run of play when Rushden took the lead on 27 minutes when Will Glennon hooked the ball home after Valley had failed to clear Michael Harriman's free-kick into the box.
Elliott nearly evened things up shortly after, but his well-struck effort from 25 yards struck the base of the post, with Wilson also threatening with a shot from distance after the striker had run purposefully at the Diamonds' defence.
At the other end, Will Jones cleared the bar with his attempt, but Rugby continued to create chances ahead of the break - with Elliott blocked out after Rose had parried Kolodynski's initial shot, and then Kolodynski sending one into the side netting after Sahota played him in.
However Rushden nearly sneaked another just before the half-time whistle, when Dan Summerfield and Josh Thomas combined to scramble away a Tejan Thomas header from the goalmouth.
The visitors started the new period in an encouraging fashion once more, with Sahota just clearing the target early on after he had done well latching onto a throw.
Summerfield headed one wide, before Wilson secured the equaliser with an instinctive headed finish from relatively close range after Rose could only parry Elliott's delivery into the box.
Rushden rallied after the goal though and they started to cause a threat from a series of corners, long throws and other set-plays.
Thomas's tame header was easily dealt with by Nykah Liburd-Hines, as was a low shot from Mitch White, but the probing from the hosts continued with an Ethan Johnston effort deflected wide and a dangerous cross from Eniola Agemoh-Davies also cut out.
Town's best chance of the second half fell to the returning Kolodynski, after Obeng had played him in with a clever through ball, but the striker could only scoop the ball over the target.
Liburd-Hines then saved from Pharrell Anderson, before pulling out a top drawer stop when getting down low to push away Agemoh-Davies's strike with a strong hand.
Sahota had a couple of half-opportunities for Valley late-on but was unable to take advantage, with Summerfield then doing well with a headed clearance to deny the hosts a late winner too.
Valley
Line-up: Liburd-Hines; Summerfield, Thomas, Mace, Francis; Fitzharris, Elliott, Sahota; Kolodynski, Wilson (Motshweni), Obeng. Subs not used: Lee, Lashley, Ahenkorah, Recci. Bookings: Summerfield, Mace.
