Diamonds registered only their second league victory of the season to deservedly topple Rugby Town in the bottom of the table clash at Butlin Road.
A week on from a highly spirited effort with just nine men at Corby, it was a particularly lacklustre display from Valley in a game with a few goalscoring opportunities overall, with strikes in each half from Cairo Taylor and Miguel Ngwa settling the outcome for the visitors.
Tomasz Bukowski returned in place of the since-departed Matt Hill between the sticks in the only change to the starting line-up in that encouraging 1-1 draw at Steel Park.
It was a scrappy start in the cold weather conditions in front of a bumper 459 crowd - swelled by the attendance of a coach-load of Oldham Athletic supporters, who had made an unplanned detour following the late postponement of their National League clash at Eastleigh.
The opening chance of the game fell to Rushden, with Fraser Corden's shot on the turn saved by Bukowski.
A tamer effort - also on the swivel - by Michael Taylor bounced wide of the post - representing the hosts' only shot of the opening exchanges, before Town suffered a crucial blow when Taylor was substituted after suffering a head injury.
Without their bludgeoning spearhead, Rugby lacked any real threat thereafter, and a workmanlike Diamonds took advantage and began to assert themselves on the game.
A well-timed tackle by Josh Thomas had thwarted Ngwa, ahead of the opening goal on 35 minutes - which came from a Taylor strike from the edge of the box that took a deflection off Valley skipper Barry Fitzharris before looping up over Bukowski into the net.
A dangerous delivery across the face of the Town goalmouth by Luke Emery was then cleared away by the head of Liam Francis, before what proved to be the home side's only on-target effort of the entire game - also a Francis header to a Chris Clements' free-kick, which was comfortably gathered by Rushden keeper Ben Heath.
Any hopes that Rugby would up their performance levels after the interval were unfounded, and the visitors almost increased their advantage on 57 minutes when Bukowski pushed Emery's close-range stabbed effort onto the post.
The away fans did not have to wait long for their second though, when Ngwa outmuscled Thomas on the left-hand side of the penalty area before cutting in and applying a neat finish past Bukowski on the hour mark.
A wayward strike from Fitzharris was Valley's only subsequent attempt on goal, after David Kolodynski's cross had been headed clear to him.
Rushden could easily have added to their tally though when substitute Tejan Thomas's excellent shot from distance cannoned back off the crossbar, with Ryan Inman sending a further effort over the bar and Ethan Johnston putting one into the side netting after a surging run into the box.
Rugby never looked like avoiding only their third home league goal blank of the season, as the game petered out disappointingly to a conclusion.
Valley
Line-up: Bukowski; Thomas, Summerfield, Recci, Francis, Recci; Fitzharris, Clements (Campbell), Sahota; Kolodynski, Wilson (Kear), Taylor (O'Sullivan). Subs not used: Lee, Mace. Bookings: Thomas, Fitzharris, Recci, Sahota.
