Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division One

Lydbrook Athletic 1 Dursley Town 5

DURSLEY put down a significant marker to underline their improvement since last season as they blew Lydbrook away with five goals before the interval.

Curtis Mills out-jumped the home goalkeeper to give Town an early lead and Kyle Ward came in from the wing to double the advantage.

Athletic pulled a goal back, but a terrific shot on the turn from Bruno Goncalves and a second goal for Mills, again down to his persistence, put the visitors well on top.

However, the pick of the goals was undoubtedly the fifth, an absolutely stunning volley from the edge of the box from Ward.

Fortunately for Lydbrook, Dursley appeared to leave their shooting boots in the dressing room at half-time, Ward in particular dabbling with ‘jug avoidance’.

Dursley: P Dykes; L Jones, Craig Bailey, C Wilkins (S Hobbs), J Stevenson; K Ward, L Thomas, M Humphrey (Carl Bailey), J Hill; C Mills (J Redbond), B Goncalves.

Goals: Mills (2), Ward (2), Goncalves.

* In Division Five of the Stroud League, Dursley thirds were soundly beaten 6-0 by visiting Barnwood Reserves in their opening match of the new season.

Friendly

Banwell Res 3 Dursley Town Res 7

DURSLEY warmed-up for Saturday’s league opener with a high-scoring victory at Banwell that featured two hat-tricks and one strike from the halfway line.

Following a tortuous journey to the Weston-super-Mare & District League side, Town were one goal down at the first break of a game divided into three 30-minute periods.

In the second half-hour, Jack Bartman headed an equaliser and Banwell hit back with a penalty, but Jack Williams fired a cracking individual goal to level once again.

Jamie Bennett eclipsed that with a shot from halfway direct from the kick-off after the second interval, although the home side were soon level with the aid of a deflection.

Dursley, however, finished the game much the stronger with front man Williams and young centre-back Bartman both striking twice more to complete hat-tricks.

Both were afforded unmarked headers, while Williams scored with a powerful drive and Bartman followed-up after Dan French’s chip had come back off the crossbar.

Dursley: K Watson; C Hyam, D French, D Clark, J Bartman; Aaron Nash, Antony Nash, R Swift, J Warner; J Bennett, J Williams.

Goals: Bartman (3), Williams (3), Bennett.