DURSLEY TOWN added another notch to their excellent run of form as they beat title-chasing Kingswood on Wednesday evening.
It was a remarkable victory for Town, who had to play 75 minutes without a recognised goalkeeper, before scoring the winning goal when down to ten men.
Dursley were up against it almost from the off with goalkeeper Keith Watson pulling a hamstring in the first five minutes.
The two sides produced a breathless opening as Town somehow survived two lengthy goalmouth scrambles in front of their immobile goalkeeper, before home stopper Chris Fox made two excellent saves from Karl Nash and Martin Booth at the other end.
Kingswood's Paul Eldridge then smacked a shot against the crossbar from 25 yards, prompting Watson to call it a day.
Left-back Simon Miles took over in goal, but the hosts were unable to test him as the game reached half-time without the deadlock being broken.
Both sides produced some attractive football in the opening hour, but it took a moment of farce to break the deadlock.
The home side failed to adequately clear a free-kick into their penalty area and after Dursley skipper Chris Lindsay headed the ball into the six-yard box, Kingswood's Mike Rodman produced an ungainly slice to lob his own goalkeeper.
Referee Wayne Millin chose to disregard an offside flag and award the goal, but he gave the hosts a soft penalty five minutes later.
Sean Clune was penalised for tugging Barrie Dibden's shirt when the striker appeared to be handing off the defender and Tommy Higgins converted the spot-kick.
Kingswood had their best spell of the game after the equaliser, but they repeatedly missed the target with Higgins the worst offender - putting a free header wide from inside the six-yard box.
With ten minutes remaining, Dursley had Karl Nash dismissed for a second yellow card, but this seemed only to galvanise the visitors.
Town substitute Maz Meta had a goal disallowed by a very late offside flag after Booth challenged Fox, but there was no reprieve for the home side five minutes from time.
Meta surged into the box on the right, drove the ball into a crowd on the near post and the resultant ricochet fell kindly for fellow substitute James Redman to turn in the winner.
With their title hopes fading, Kingswood threw everyone forward in search for an equaliser, but stand-in goalkeeper Miles made a brilliant stop in injury-time to secure the game for the visitors.
Dursley manager Chris Dolbear said: "What a fantastic victory. We didn't play as well as we can, but we keep getting the results at the moment."
Kingswood: C Fox, J Compton, A Eldridge, S Rae, M Rodman, M Shaw, P Eldridge, G Dibden, P Bleaken, T Higgins, B Dibden (D Griffiths 75).
Goals: Higgins pen (65).
Dursley: K Watson (S Bennett 15), P Miles, S Miles, S Clune, C Lindsay, A Nash (M Meta 80), L Thomas, A Booth (J Redman 70), K Nash, W Steel, M Booth.
Goals: Rodman og (60), Redman (85).
Sent off: K Nash (80) second booking.
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