Trey Charles' early second half penalty secured a vital Boxing Day derby three points and a win in the first home game under Ian King at Butlin Road.

The thick fog made the spectacle difficult to watch but the win will have provided the Valley faithful with some long overdue festive cheer.

King made two changes from the side that started the narrow defeat at Darlaston in his first game in charge, with Josh Thomas returning from injury in the centre of the Town defence and Madundo Semahimbo in on the wing after impressing from the bench five days earlier.

The Greenbacks had the first chance of the game when ex-Valley man Will Grocott shot wide, but aside from that it was an encouraging opening twenty minutes from the hosts in the awkward visibility conditions.

Charles's dangerous low cross to the near post was claimed by Liam O'Brien, before the United keeper was called upon to make a great reaction stop to keep out Semahimbo's effort from point blank range.

Harrison Nee's through ball then released Semahimbo for a great chance again, but this time he could only stab his shot wide of the target, with another subsequent strike from Semahimbo blocked away for a corner.

Tyreace Brown headed over from a few yards out, as Rugby continued their good start to proceedings, with Alex Dean's attempt - which drifted comfortably wide - representing a rare moment of danger for the Town defence.

Semahimbo skied another chance after Thomas's long ball forward had picked him out, before Charles's shot from a tight angle was blocked. Nee's header at the back post lacked threat late in the half, but overall it was an encouraging opening forty five for the men in sky blue.

Valley got their reward for their previous endeavour with the new period just two minutes old when Luke Rowe was perhaps somewhat harshly adjudged to have fouled Nee in the box after the ex-Coventry City academy prospect had run onto Paul Hathaway's upfield punt, and Charles stepped up to maintain his 100% record from the spot this season with his sixth successful attempt from twelve yards.

Semahimbo was then thwarted by Charlie Dowd as he looked to add another for Valley, and Dan Summerfield's cross from the right was cut out by Kane Auld at the end of a particularly neat move from the home side.

Charles's strike was deflected just over the bar, before the visitors came close to snatching what would have been an undeserved late equaliser when Grocott pinged a free-kick from 25 yards against Hathaway's bar.

Valley Line-up: Hathaway; Summerfield, Lekuti, Thomas (Francis 46'), Brown; Clements, Elliott, Berry; Semahimbo, Nee, Charles. Subs not used: O'Toole, Mensah, Osoimoejiokhian, Semahimbo. Booked: Lekuti, Charles.

Bedworth Line-up: O'Brien, Moore, Rowe, Parrott, Auld, Shaw, Martin, Dean, Murphy, Grocott, Dowd. Subs: Letford, Candlin, Baker, Bailey-Nicholls, Woerner-Peacock.