PAULTON ROVERS 1 TAUNTON TOWN 1

Rovers face a replay at Taunton Town having been thwarted by a combination of fine goalkeeping from man of the match, Connor Sidley-Adams, bad luck and poor finishing.

The game started badly for the hosts with Lee Collier having to leave for hospital having reopened a cut on his eye in the 6th minute.

The home side caused the visiting defence problems all afternoon with pace on both flanks and Ben Lacey put over a low cross which a Taunton defender completely missed but there no one on had to capitalise. The visitors’ keeper pulled of the first of numerous good saves in the 13th minute as he pushed away a deflected free kick from Kris Miller. It was not all one way traffic and Rovers’ keeper, Kyle Phillips, had to get down low to his right to save a free kick from Town skipper, Simon Ingram. However the home side looked the most likely to score as substitute, Sean Seavill, forced another good save from Sidley-Adams, Nick McCootie sent a volley just wide and Miller failed to hit the target after latching onto a great pass from Dan Cleverley. Rovers almost gifted the visitors a lead on 36 minutes as Phillips called for a long ball forward but failed to collect and Rodney Marsh’s shot was deflected wide by a defender. Miller forced another save from the Taunton keeper before with only 2 minutes of normal time remaining Rovers’ pressure finally told.

Lee Davidson played a ball into the Taunton area and Miller just beat Sidley-Adams to the ball and his touch fell to McCootie who fired in from a narrow angle.

After a quiet opening to the second period the home side should have extended their lead in the 53rd minute as McCootie raced onto a through ball but he lifted it over the keeper and the bar. Lacey then went on a fantastic run that took him past 4 defenders but once again the Town keeper saved the shot.

Somewhat against the run of the play the visitors levelled in the 63rd minute as substitute, Craig Herrod, shrugged of his marker and crossed from the left where Marsh was on hand to slot home.

Rovers should have restored the lead 5 minutes later when an excellent passing move down the left saw Davidson and Craig Loxton combine to set up another substitute, Dave Stone, but with the goal at his mercy he somehow shot wide. Town could well have stolen the victory with 15 minutes remaining as Phillips charged from his goal but was beaten to the ball by James Blake whose cross from the left was touched over the bar by Ingram. Rovers pressed for the winner but Stone had a shot saved after more good work from Lacey and Marcus Mapstone had a header cleared off the line while Loxton shot across goal and wide of the far post from a narrow angle. In injury time Lacey again went on a fine run but was frustrated to see Sidley-Adams complete yet another save and give his side the chance to progress in the replay.

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Tovey, Lee Davidson, Marcus Mapstone, Scott Brice, Lee Collier (Sean Seavill 6 mins), Craig Loxton, Ben Lacey, Nick McCootie (Dave Stone 65 mins), Dan Cleverley (C), Kris Miller (James Vincent 80 mins)
Sub not used: Nick Bunyard.

Rovers’ Man of the Match: Ben Lacey

Referee: Andrew Quinn
Assts: Oliver Green / Sam Littlefair

Attendance: 123