A dogged Stow Town were fingertips away from snatching a draw against Dereham Town - but went down 3-1.

The gold and black's opening league game got off to the perfect start when Gary Camplejohn's deep free-kick was fumbled over the line by the host's keeper after three minutes.

Stow dug in against last year's league runners-up with skipper Jimmy Brown breaking up attacks and Kristian Johnson keeping striker Scott Woodgate quiet.

Dereham were restricted to long-range efforts for the most part while Stow nearly doubled their lead when Jordan Griffin went through one-on-one but skewed wide.

But the visitor's conceded at the worst possible time - a minute before the break - when Dereham took a quick free-kick and three passes later the ball was in the back of the net.

Stow continued to battle bravely after the break and were unlucky to concede after 70 minutes. A right-wing free-kick was whipped in, eluding attackers and defenders, and the away side's keeper Sephy Clements could only palm the ball onto the post before it crept over the line.

Jamie Sharpe came within a whisker of equalising for Stow with five minutes to go but his low freekick from 20 yards was shovelled around the post by the home side's keeper.

Dereham netted a third in the closing stages with Stow pushing forward looking for the equaliser.

Stow: Clements, Camplejohn, Corrick (Coplin), Lockwood (D. Bowers), Johnson, Hope, Griffin, Sharpe, Brown, Turner, Larkins.