WIMBORNE Town fell to their first narrow defeat of the season at the hands of Gloucester City.

The Dorset team were facing the Gloucestershire side for the first time in their history and lost 1-0 thanks to a well-taken Brandon Smalley goal just before half time.

The away side made just one change from the eleven that started against Winchester three days prior to the game on Saturday, August 17, with Billy Walker coming into the side.

Scott Arnold and Joseph Ryan were added to the matchday squad to bolster the injury hit side.

Home side Gloucester aimed to fire balls in behind the Wimborne back-line from the start, but sweeper-keeper Ross Flitney and centre-backs Sam Roberts and Billy Walker repelled the early attacks.

Wimborne created first half chances too, with Matty Burrows’ shot bringing a low save from ‘keeper Thompson.

A free kick won by Will Fletcher taken by Matt Neale was blocked by the wall, with Burrows’ follow-up shot fired wide.

Fletcher then flashed a header wide from a Neale free kick, before Burrows hit the post with a shot after Neale won a midfield tussle.

The home side took the lead with 41 minutes played.

Smalley picked up the ball wide on the left, before cutting inside and wrong-footing Flitney with a shot that found the net inside the near post.

After the break, the game ebbed and flowed, with both sides having chances, although Flitney was not called into action throughout the second period.

Manager Tim Sills sent Connor Cocklin to join Fletcher up front, with the substitute firing wide from a cross on 87 minutes.

Wimborne went close minutes from the end with Neale’s strike from a free kick 35 yards out headed for the top corner before Gloucester ‘keeper fingertipped it past the post.

The visitors were unable to force an equaliser from the resulting corner and the final whistle went.

The result means Wimborne have taken six points from the first three games of the season.