PAULTON ROVERS 2 DIDCOT TOWN 3

Rovers poor start to the season continued as they conceded two penalties in the final few minutes having been reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes of the game remaining to exit the FA Trophy.

The visitors opted to begin the game with only 10 players as full back, Sam Elkins, donned the goalkeeper’s jersey awaiting the delayed arrival of the usual custodian, Marcus Belloli-Periera. The move paid off despite Rovers going close twice in a promising opening. Lee Davidson’s 3rd minute free kick was headed on by Josh Jeffries and Scott Brice’s volley just cleared the bar. In the 10th minute they went closer still as a move down the left saw Craig Loxton set up Nick McCootie for a shot that thumped against the bar. Once the numerical advantage ended the visitors got into the game with defender Lee Henderson sending a back post header wide and then Rovers’ keeper Kyle Phillips pushed away a Bryan Bowles free before producing two excellent saves to deny the lively Pablo Haysham and then another 5 minutes from the break to thwart James Clark.

As with the first tie it was difficult to believe the first half had ended goalless given the number of chances and the second period began in the same vein as Phillips again saved from Haysham who then set up Lance Williams for a drive that just cleared the bar.

However it was James Billing on his return from suspension who broke the deadlock on 57 minutes, somewhat against the run of play. Kris Miller went on a run before finding McCootie who held the ball up well before slipping the ball through to Billing who calmly chipped the ball over the diving keeper.

McCootie had a shot saved and Haysham again forced another save from Phillips as the tie once again hung in the balance with play switching from end to end until the home side were reduced to 10 men as Marcus Mapstone was dismissed for a second yellow card on 70 minutes and it took Didcot just 2 minutes to make their numerical advantage pay with an excellent move down the left which saw Clark play a ball into the space for Morgan Williams to drill home the equaliser from just inside the box, the ball flashing across goal and into the bottom far corner.

Remarkably Ben Lacey restored the home side’s lead on 76 minutes as he latched on to a poor cross field pass from Lance Williams to fire home from the edge of the penalty area.

Rovers were indebted to Phillips again as he touched over a drive from Clark but the visitor’s pressure told as Lance Williams was adjudged to have been fouled going for a cross in the box in the 84th minute and Clark converted the penalty.

The tie looked to be heading for extra time but it was Didcot who progress to the next round against Cinderford Town a week on Saturday as James Clark converted a second penalty in the 91st minute as the unsighted Phillips spilled a shot and Scott Brice was adjudged to have brought down a Didcot player.

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Ben Osman, Lee Davidson, Marcus Mapstone, Scott Brice, Josh Jeffries, Craig Loxton, Nick McCootie (James Vincent 81 mins), James Billing, Dan Cleverley (C), Kris Miller (Ben Lacey 67 mins).
Subs not used: Dave Stone, Aaron Cornwell, Ben Bicknell.

Referee: Thomas Blanch

Assts: David Hoareau / Craig Scriven

Attendance: 101