Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division One

Dursley Town 1 Ramblers 0

BRUNO Goncalves fired Dursley to a desperately-needed triumph over fellow-strugglers Ramblers at the Rec to put a timely end to their eight-game winless run.

The Gloucester side made the more lively start to the match and created a couple of early chances, but they were caught by a quick break on the quarter-hour mark.

Having gathered a Ramblers corner in unorthodox fashion, Keith Watson launched a big kick that the visitors made a mess of and Goncalves shot home from 20 yards.

Dursley came close to a second goal before the break when Jim Stevenson headed just over the bar, while Ryan Stevenson had a shot kicked off the line by a defender.

The visitors were always dangerous, though, and ought to have at least been level at the break, but Watson made two one-on-one saves and several other interventions.

Ramblers really turned the screw after half-time as Town made their customary slow start to the second period, but they were repeatedly denied by the home rearguard.

Watson made a superb one-handed save to turn one effort away from the top corner, while a header from a free-kick flew inches wide with the goalkeeper motionless.

The hosts were really hanging on, but defenders Steve Hobbs, Chris Wilkins, Matt Workman and skipper Dan McNally headed everything to claim a battling victory.

Dursley: K Watson; S Hobbs, C Wilkins, M Workman, D McNally; N Vines (L Jones 85), J Stevenson, C Bailey, S Miles; B Goncalves (M Humphrey 80), R Stevenson. Not Used: C Dolbear.

Goals: Goncalves (15).

Stroud League Division Two

AC Royals 1 Dursley Town Res 1

ONE point each was not an entirely unexpected outcome given that AC Royals and Dursley have drawn more games than every other team in the division this season.

However, for a long time it looked as if the visitors would take all three points after scoring early on and then holding their higher-placed hosts at arm’s length.

Town right-back Wayne Taylor headed his side into a first-half lead when Jack Aldridge nodded a corner back across the face of goal for his team-mate to finish.

Royals looked like being frustrated by a dogged defensive performance from the visitors, but they eventually fashioned an equaliser inside the final ten minutes.

Dursley: P Dykes; W Taylor, D French, R Swift, R Crowcombe; J Minett, L Peters, Antony Nash; J Aldridge (K Ward 70), J Knight, J Warner.

Goals: Taylor (15).

* Dursley 3rds endured a miserable afternoon at the hands of McCadam as they went down 8-0 in Division Five.