Early pacesetters Sporting Khalsa kept up their 100% record with victory over Rugby Town at the Guardian Warehousing Arena.
Two first-half goals did the damage for the promotion-chasing hosts, although Rugby's depleted squad offered a better performance than in the 6-0 defeat to Corby four days previously - but were just unable to break down a well-organised Khalsa backline.
Town boss Carl Adams rang the changes after that heavy loss with Edwin Ahenkorah into the starting line-up, a full debut for Rico Taylor and first appearances in a Valley shirt for summer signing Kyle Burke and recent arrival Massiah McDonald.
Rugby started the game reasonably well, without creating any real moments of worry for the home defence - although Ryan Sahota did embark on one dangerous run for them early in the proceedings.
However, Town found themselves behind on eleven minutes, after Jordan Wilson had surrendered possession in the middle of the pitch to ultimately allow Curvin Sanderson-Ellis to roll Keenah Rosser on the edge of the penalty area before firing past Matt Hill at his near-post.
Hill then did well to keep out Toumani Sidibe's attempt at doubling his side's tally, before Ahenkorah had a decent-looking shout for a penalty turned down after it appeared he was clipped from behind by Sean Williams as the Rugby wing-back looked to be breaking clear in the box.
The hosts did make it two though on 25 minutes, when Sporting skipper Tesfa Robinson reaffirmed his side's superiority when he shot one through the body of Hill.
Williams headed one over, and Sidibe was blocked out by Rosser and Josh Thomas after ex-Valley man Dom Perkins had set him up, as Khalsa looked to extend their advantage even further, although Dan Summerfield did have a chance at the other end from a scooped pass by Ahenkorah, but he was unable to get a true connection on his effort.
Rugby continued to finish the half well though, and Thomas headed a Taylor corner off-target and then McDonald showed good skill on the ball out wide before his attempt at picking out Sahota was just cut out.
Williams fired a further effort over the bar just ahead of the interval for the home team, with the first opportunity of significance in the new period seeing Taylor curl one into Khalsa keeper Samuel Arnold's arms from the edge of the box.
Town's positive start to the half continued, with Sahota just running out of space after a jinking run down the by-line, and then another Sahota foray ending with sub Alex Lock having his effort blocked away.
Khalsa were mainly restricted to speculative strikes from distance, although Sidibe probably should have done better from a central position from ten yards out, but he blazed wildly over.
Lock was another to miss the frame by some margin with his shot from twenty yards, as Town ended a period of good possession and intent with the ball.
Sporting sub Gurjit Singh had a shot blocked by Thomas in a dangerous position after a counter-attack from the hosts, with Valley's final chance of the afternoon then seeing McDonald's effort also blocked after Loyiso Recci had headed the ball across the box to him.
Valley
Line-up: Hill; Rosser, Burke (Recci), Thomas; Summerfield, Ahenkorah (English), Fitzharris, Taylor, Sahota; McDonald, Wilson (Lock). Subs not used: Francis. Bookings: Taylor, Burke, Sahota.
