DAVE Percival's double strike ended a six-match goal drought on Monday and ensured Trowbridge Town start the New Year at the top of the Hellenic League Division One West.

But the win may have come at a cost, as Percival played for 70 minutes of the match with a broken finger and may need an operation to repair the injury.

Percival has declared himself fit for tomorrow's match at Purton, but after an appointment at the hospital on Monday he could be forced into a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

He said: "Someone stood on the finger in the first half and afterwards I found out I had a fractured a bone in the finger and tore a ligament on the side of the finger.

"I will have to wait to hear what they have to say on Monday but I could have to miss a few games because something might have to be done to stop me from losing movement in the hand."

Having scored 23 goals in the first 14 games of the season, Percival had only managed one in the last nine but is hoping Monday's double will get him back on track.

After Twaine Plummer had cancelled out Matt Cooper's opener, Percival headed the hosts back into the lead on 40 minutes and then broke clear to seal the result in injury time, after the visitors' goalkeeper Rob Dent had pushed forward for a corner.

Percival said: "I have been getting a bit of stick from the rest of the lads recently because my name has not been getting in the paper so it is nice to finally get back on the score sheet.

"I don't score many with my head so my first goal was especially pleasing."

With Tytherington level on points with Trowbridge at the top of the table, the Bees knew a win would put them in a strong position at the turn of the year and started brightly.

On six minutes Adam Nunn's cross from the left was picked up on the right by Gavin Eyre and his cross was powerfully headed into the net by Cooper for the opener.

Eyre should have doubled the lead on 30 minutes but he volleyed over from close range after good work on the right by Cooper.

With their first real attack of the match, Tytherington levelled when the lively Plummer headed Gary Cripps' cross downwards into the net.

The hosts' lead was restored five minutes before the break as Percival headed Eyre's pinpoint right wing cross into the top of the net.

After the break, Trowbridge continued to press and Bakali was unlucky to see his 20-yard shot cannon off the pots to safety.

Paul Howse thought he had levelled for the visitors on 60 minutes but his header was disallowed for offside.

With time running out Tytherington pushed more men forward and Trowbridge had Gordon Saunderson to thank for a goal-line clearance with minutes remaining.

On 94 minutes Dent had pushed forward for a corner, and when the clearance fell to Percival he raced clear and rolled the ball into the empty net.

Manager Neil Kirkpatrick said: "We played well and in the end could have won by a few more."