Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division One

Dursley Town 0 Cheltenham Civil Service 2

A CALAMITOUS opening five minutes cost Dursley all hope of taking any points from their clash with high-flying Cheltenham Civil Service at the Rec.

Having scored just 22 goals in 22 league games, Town can ill-afford to give any team a two-goal head start, much less one with genuine title aspirations.

Under one minute in, however, home goalkeeper Keith Watson could only parry a shot that came through a crowd and Ryan McDonald was on hand to tap into the net.

The visitors scored again almost immediately, Watson unable to deal with a wicked free-kick and John Evans finishing in near-identical circumstances to the opener.

With Dursley yards off the pace, Civil Service looked eminently capable of a second successive 6-0 win, but the hosts dug in and began to threaten their opponents.

Karl Nash and Curtis Mills fired good shots straight at the visiting goalkeeper, while Matt Workman hooked the ball over after a corner dropped onto his weaker left foot.

The second half was quite even in terms of possession and territory, but whereas the visitors continued to create opportunities, Town struggled in the attacking third.

Although there was no shortage of effort from the hosts, they were unable to carve out any clear-cut chances and Civil Service remained comfortable enough.

Dursley: K Watson; L Jones, S Hobbs, R Crowcombe, M Workman; N Vines (A Forgione 46), L Thomas, C Bailey, C Mills; K Nash (B Goncalves 75); R Stevenson. Not Used: C Wilkins.

* Dursley face a must-win game at bottom-of-the-table Bredon on Saturday (3pm).