Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division One

Dursley Town 0 Taverners 0

DURSLEY kicked-off the new campaign with an encouraging performance in their goalless draw with Nailsworth side Taverners at the Rec.

Town boss Chris Dolbear put his faith in a predominantly youthful side, while also selecting almost certainly the beardiest substitutes’ bench in the history of the club.

While there were no goals, the game was far from a bore draw, with chances at either end and both goalkeepers making excellent saves when called upon.

Dursley’s Pete Dykes was certainly the busier of the two stoppers, repeatedly winning out in a personal dual with Taverners front man Ed Parsloe.

However, the longer the game went on, the more the home side came into it with the pace of Curtis Mills, Bruno Goncalves and Kyle Ward causing problems.

It was Mills who came closest to breaking the deadlock late on, but visiting goalkeeper Duane Portlock made a great save from his low shot from an angle.

Dursley: P Dykes; L Jones, Craig Bailey, C Wilkins, J Stevenson; K Ward (J Redbond 80), L Thomas, M Humphrey (B Jones 80), J Hill; C Mills, B Goncalves. Not Used: J Bennett, J Williams, K Watson (gk).

* Bruno Goncalves and Kyle Ward both scored goals as Dursley beat Quedgeley 2-1 in the opening round of the Stroud Charity Cup Section A last Wednesday evening.

Town fell behind to their lower division opponents, but Goncalves came up with the equaliser before Ward struck the winner from the penalty spot.