BEACONSFIELD Town made a frustrating start to the new season in the Southern Premier South after a 1-0 defeat at Dorchester Town on Saturday, writes Rob Stevens.

The Rams won at The Avenue Stadium last season which saw them go on to secure their league status with some degree of comfort but, on this occasion the visitors fell to a wind-assisted wonder strike.

The only goal in the game came on 10 minutes when home favourite Tom Blair hit a curling right-foot shot from the edge of the box, with the ball catching the wind and arching into the top corner past the despairing dive of keeper Andrew McCorkell.

The visitors were unfortunate not to win a penalty kick five minutes after the break when Jon-Jo Bates toed the ball around the Dorchester keeper, before his lunging dive sent the attacker to the ground. Referee Jack Clench however disagreed and gave Bates a caution for simulation.

The Rams' best chance in the second half saw Mayo Balogun cut in from the left and fire a low shot from the edge of the box which Murphy did well to save as it arrowed towards the bottom corner.

Beaconsfield club captain Wes Daly took charge of the team with first team manager Gary Meakin unavailable.

The Rams return to Holloways Park for the visit of Buckinghamshire rivals Chesham United on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Chesham make the short trip following their opening day 2-0 win against Salisbury at The Meadow on Saturday.

Salisbury reached the play-offs last season and were gifted the chance to break the deadlock when Steve Brown fouled Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick inside the box. The Generals keeper Ben Goode kept up his fine record of penalty saves to dive and block the effort from Hippolyte-Patrick.

The home team broke the deadlock just before the hour mark as Dernell Wynter cut inside from the left and found the net with a powerful drive that Salisbury stopper Marcus Beauchamp could not keep out.

Chesham doubled their advantage 11 minutes later when Wynter forced the ball home in a crowded box from an Adam Martin long throw.