LEWIS McCarron’s 40-yard wonder strike was the difference for Corsham Town as they opened up the new Toolstation League Division One campaign with a 2-1 victory at home to Portishead Town on Saturday, writes JONATHAN LEIGHFIELD.

In an all-action first half that featured three goals, it was McCarron’s screamer that proved to be the difference after Josh Bright had poked the home side in front early on and Portishead’s Mitch Osmond headed the visitors’ reply 10 minutes before half-time to cut the gap.

Corsham had chances to put the game beyond doubt in the second period – the best of which came as Jamal Chevolleau rounded the visiting goalkeeper, only to be denied by an outstretched arm.

Yet the home side did manage to see the game out thanks to a strike that manager Justin Flowers believes is unlikely to be beaten in the goal of the season contest.

Discussing McCarron’s winner, Corsham boss Flowers said: “That was a special goal, really special.

“Lewis is a player that we know can produce things like that. He’s done it before in other games, but he went off the boil a bit last season, so we’re really happy he’s come back ready to go and done that in his first game.

“Hopefully there will be more to come like that, but I’m not sure we’ll see a better one in the whole season.”

And despite an opening-day victory for his team, the Corsham boss felt his side could and should have added a little more gloss to the scoreline.

Finishing fifth last term was a ‘great achievement’, according to Flowers, but he has previously stated he wants to improve on last season’s showing this term.

As a result, Flowers has targeted winning matches in a much more convincing fashion this time around.

He said: “The scoreline doesn’t really reflect the game. Portishead had one shot on target and scored it, and we should have scored three or four, maybe even five or six.

“It’s still three points, at the end of the day, so we’re happy with the start we’ve made.

“We’ve started this season with a similar side to the one that ended last year, and we picked up good habits last year in terms of being able to see games out, but we want to work on trying to win games more convincingly this season.

“That’s something I really want to push because you’re putting yourself at risk by trying to see a game out.

“On Saturday, anything could have happened at the end.

“You know what football is like, it can come back to haunt you, so the aim is to try and win games more convincingly this season.”

Elsewhere, Calne Town also got their season off to a winning start through an excellent brace from Stuart Windsor as they saw off Radstock Town 2-0.

Windsor lobbed the goalkeeper with a well-taken volley in the first half before squeezing a right-footed shot into the top corner on the hour mark.

Devizes Town lost 3-2 away at Cheddar despite leading 1-0 through Joe Broadbank.

Two conceded penalties put the home side in control before Luke Enderby pulled one back late on.

Warminster Town also fell to defeat in their first match as they lost 1-0 to Welton Rovers at Weymouth Street.