Sporting Khalsa ran out comfortable victors over Rugby Town in the NPL Midlands at the Guardian Warehousing Arena.

The damage was done in a first half with the hosts cruising to a two-goal lead thanks to strikes from Andre Landell and James McGrady, and despite an improved Town performance after the break, they were unable to make the required breakthrough.

Barry Fitzharris, Ethan O'Toole and Hilton Arthur replaced Chris Clements, Mikey Taylor and the suspended Harrison Nee in the starting eleven, as Rugby looked to end a run of three straight defeats against their Willenhall-based hosts.

Town nearly made a dream start to the game when Josh Thomas flicked-on Trey Charles's corner to the near post, but somehow they were unable to force the ball home - despite it striking the post as it bobbled around the goalmouth.

Aside from Arthur's mazy run which resulted in a corner shortly after this, Valley pretty much failed to land a glove on the home side for the remainder of the half.

Landell dispatched one from distance past the post after Charles had given the ball away cheaply, and another speculative shot from Jayden Campbell was also off-target.

Todd Ferrier's strike on the turn also went wide as Sporting's good spell continued, with Rugby keeper Paul Hathaway then doing well to then keep out a chance for Campbell.

The goal inevitably came for the hosts with half an hour on the clock, when Landell ran onto Tesfa Robinson's long, straight to ball to see off Thomas and then fire in past Hathaway from the edge of the area.

Arthur flicked a header wide to another curling Charles corner, but it was a rare moment of respite for Town, and the influential Campbell was soon being thwarted twice by Thomas in back-to-back attacking plays.

It was two-nil on the stroke of half-time though, when Campbell's cross picked out the unmarked McGrady to score from close range after a period of Khalsa pressure in and around the Rugby box.

The visitors started the new half brightly, with home keeper Brandon Canley out quickly to deny Charles, and then Liam Francis's header grazed the crossbar after O'Toole's corner had been headed back across goal to him.

Charles's low strike was saved by Canley after Arthur's initial strike had cannoned back to him, with Thomas then heading over and Tayo Tucker's deflected shot saved.

Francis did well block out Landell - just as the striker looked to be clean through on goal, with a further opportunity for Landell on the volley also blocked out.

Arthur's header to a deep Dan Summerfield cross failed to trouble Ganley, before sub Taylor ran onto a hopeful punt upfield - only to be shepherded wide by Kristian Green and see his shot blocked, with Tucker's speculative effort to the loose ball flying over the bar.

Landell's diving header went wide, before another bludgeoning Taylor run and strike from a tight angle was ultimately smothered by Ganley.

Damien Osoimoejiokhian cleared one away from the line, as Sporting looked to make the game totally safe, with O'Toole also defending well in blocking the follow-up attempt.

A great low save by Hathaway to Shaquille Master's effort followed, before a hopeful Town shout for a foul on Tucker in the box was turned down.

The final chance of the game fell to the hosts, with Landell slipping the attentions of Thomas on the halfway line before firing one over the bar from twenty yards.

Valley Line-up: Hathaway; Summerfield, Osoimoejiokhian, Thomas, Francis; Elliott, Fitzharris (Taylor 59'), O'Toole; Tucker, Arthur, Charles. Subs not used: Ahenkorah, Mensah, Sahota, Rai. Booked: Francis, Elliott.

Khalsa Line-up: Canley, Green, Campbell, Dolman, Robinson, Taylor, Hewett, Ferrier, Landell, Cobourne, McGrady. Subs: Franco, Ward, Master, Reid, Singh.