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.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here