Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division Two

Whaddon United 3 Dursley Town 2

DURSLEY slipped to a narrow defeat on the opening day of the new Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division Two season as Whaddon United netted a controversially-awarded free-kick with less than ten minutes to play at Cheltenham.

Manager Phil Miles’ side had made a bright start and went ahead thanks to a goal from summer signing Kyroe Thomas, but they were soon behind as the home side hit back with two goals of their own.

Town looked set to claim a point when Keiran Austin equalised with a terrific free-kick, but then Rob Cox was harshly adjudged to have committed a foul twenty yards out.

Shatford struck twice for Whaddon, while Justin Powell grabbed the other goal for the hosts as they edged home.

* Dursley Town's interest in the Reg Davis Cup came to an end in the second round last Wednesday night when Division One outfit FC Barometrics ran out 4-1 winners.

Curtis Mills scored for the home side.

A week earlier, Town had ended the first-team’s long penalty shoot-out hoodoo with a 4-2 win at English Bicknor following a 1-1 draw. Jake Hawkins scored for Dursley in normal time.

Meanwhile, Dursley Town will welcome Abbeymead to the Rec for their first home game of their Northern Senior Two campaign on Saturday afternoon (3pm).

And Dursley Town’s reserves begin their Stroud and District League Division Four campaign at home to their Barnwood United counterparts the same day (2.30pm).