FIVE different players scored goals as Dursley Town made the best of abysmal conditions in beating Shortwood United Reserves at the Rec.

Town essentially earned their victory by taking a 2-1 lead into the break, having played into the howling wind and driving rain in the opening 45 minutes.

In fact, the conditions helped the home side open the scoring inside five minutes as Martin Booth’s high cross held up in the wind, wrong-footed the defence and allowed Simon Miles to shoot past John Summers.

However, the elements returned the favour midway through the half when Liam Meredith’s left-wing cross caught Dursley goalkeeper Keith Watson out and went in off the crossbar.

Shortwood blew a great chance to take the lead when Ed Parsloe dragged a shot wide and instead the hosts went 2-1 up as Maz Meta shot home after Simon Miles had knocked down a Karl Nash cross.

Backed by the wind and rain, Town dominated the second half and scored their third within five minutes of the restart as Nash drove in a low shot from 20 yards.

United briefly threatened to rally midway through the half, but Paul Street’s first league goal for Dursley extinguished the visitors’ hopes 20 minutes from time.

Two minutes later, the home side added a fifth when substitute Jamie Bennett fired a free-kick straight through a hopelessly inept defensive wall.

Summers then saved superbly from both Meta and Phil Miles - denied what would have been a first goal in two-and-a-half years with Town - while substitute Rich Small had a goal disallowed right on full-time.

Dursley manager Chris Dolbear said: “You know that you’re going to have to work hard in conditions like these and we got our reward for doing just that.”

Dursley: K Watson, M Booth, C Wilkins, P Miles, C Lindsay, A Nash (R Small 75), L Thomas, P Street, S Miles, K Nash (J Bennett 71), M Meta.

Goals: S Miles (5), Meta (35), K Nash (50), Street (70), Bennett (72).