A much-improved Valley earned a point at early NPL Midlands pace-setters Belper Town.
Caine Elliott's second-half penalty cancelled out Louis Keenan's deflected strike a few minutes before as Grant Joshua's men put in an energetic and determined display which was perhaps deserving of all three points.
Joshua reshuffled his pack again with a change in shape which included a debut for new midfielder Isaac Adegoke with Rivel Mardenborough returning to the forward line after missing the last two games along with Ryan Sahota and Bleu McNeil coming into the starting XI.
The game against the Nailers was like chalk compared to Monday's cheese against Shepshed Dynamo at Butlin Road with a fast-tempoed game with good football by both sides and an abundance of goal-mouth action.
Belper's James Tague saw a snapshot blocked by McNeil which was sandwiched by two good early Harrison Nee chances for Valley, firstly blazing over from a good position after being released by Callum Griffin and then forcing a good reaction save out of Kieran Preston after racing onto Mardenborough's flick-on.
Jonathan Wafula could only direct a header straight at Marcus Bald from Kevin Bastos' cross while Preston was again on hand to keep out Griffin's shot from inside the area after good work by Mardenborough
Valley keeper Marcus Bald made a fine save to tip over Jacob Gratton's powerful strike and at the other end Caine Elliott's free-kick forced another good diving save by Preston just before half time.
The start of the second half saw some end-to-end action with Preston firstly stopping Keenan from deflecting a corner into his own net before James Tague fired wide of the post after debutant Isaac Adegoke's pass back had left Bald stranded out of position.
Some pinball in Rugby box could easily have resulted in a Belper goal but eventually the referee called for a foul on Bald after Nathan Kabeya's vital defensive header near the goal-line.
Ryan Sahota finally found a strike to beat Preston with his effort from 25 yards but this time it struck the crossbar before more end-to-end action which saw Kevin Bastos send a shot tamely at Bald before Griffin was again thwarted by Preston at close quarters after Elliott's excellent long pass.
Griffin was then in defensive action to get back to brilliantly block a Bastos effort after he'd been sent clean through before the hosts got the breakthrough from the resulting corner.
After his initial corner was half cleared, Keenan followed with a low cross-cum-shot which was diverted into the net by the unfortunate Kabeya.
Rugby got deservedly level soon after when Ethan Hanson was fouled by substitute Diego Edwards and Elliott made no mistake from the spot.
Either side could have gone on to take the points but it was Rugby who came closest with Mardenborough seeing his header hit the upright from Elliott's free-kick before Kabeya curled a fine effort just off target from 20 yards.
