Rugby Town focus on the FA Cup after a perfect start

Having secured back-to-back victories in the first week of the league campaign, Town’s attention now shifts to the Emirates FA Cup this weekend when they travel to Westfields in the extra preliminary round of the competition.

Valley's wins over Cogenhoe United at the weekend and Coventry Sphinx on Tuesday evening meant only them and March Town United had enjoyed a maximum return, with just one match-up remaining in the division’s first two set of fixtures.

Town had had to come from behind at Butlin Road on Saturday though, after Archie Elmore scored from the spot for a dogged Cogenhoe side on 22 minutes.

Ryan Seal was soon levelling things up for Rugby – also with penalty – before Justin Marsden rolled back theyears to secure the points in the second half with a particularly composed finish to round off a well-worked team move.

Tuesday's visit to a much-fancied Sphinx outfit was always going to be a tough early test of Rugby's promotion credentials.

But the visitors dug deep to ensure that the short journey home would be a happy one thanks to David Kolodynski's solitary goal of the game just past the hour mark after Valley skipper Loyiso Recci had powerfully met a Dan Summerfield cross with his head.

Rugby survived some late pressure from the hosts, with one-time Town academy player Mason Platts missing out when his header from a dangerous position was deflected into the hands of Matt Hill.

This Saturday's cup opponents finished in seventh place in the Hellenic League equivalent to Town's level, with the two sides battling it out in Herefordshire for a place in the preliminary round in two weeks time at either Studley or Heanor Town.

Valley boss Carl Adams should have one of his summer signings Charlie Evans back available again after the returning front man missed the opening two fixtures.

Madundo Semahimbo continues to be doubtful with a muscle strain, although another one of Adams's striking options Edwin Ahenkorah did feature in both UCL successes after missing out on the entire pre-season friendly schedule through injury.