CHIPPENHAM TOWN 0 PAULTON ROVERS 3

Rovers recorded back to back victories for the first time this season as they deservedly progressed to the second round of the competition.

After an even opening that saw Town’s, Ben Wickens, fire over the bar and Rovers’ defender, Marcus Mapstone, just fail to get a back post header on target from a Charlie Rich corner the home side suffered a severe blow as Lee Phillips was forced to leave the field with what looked like a groin strain. Ben Lacey and Craig Loxton caused the home defence problems all evening and in the 8th minute the latter was unlucky to see his header from Lacey’s cross blocked by a defender while 4 minutes later Lacey opted to cross rather than shoot and Clayton Fortune got to the ball just before James Billing.

However Billing did not have long to wait before getting on the score sheet as in the 20th minute a good passing move down the right saw Lacey set up Loxton for a cross, which Billing met at the near post to head the visitors into the lead.

Town responded but apart from an easy save from a Luke Ballinger headed Rovers’ keeper, Kyle Phillips was rarely troubled and it was no surprise when on 33 minutes the lead was doubled. This time the visitors move came down the left and Billing played the ball into Ben Osman who fired the ball across the keeper, Ben John, who got a touch on it, but could not prevent it finding the bottom corner of the net.

The closest Town got to pulling one back before the break came in the 44th minute when Ballinger just failed to get a touch on a cross from the left as he slid in at the far post. There was no doubt the home side were better in the second half and exerted pressure on the Rovers’ goal without, in truth, much threat until the 67th minute when a corner from the left was dropped by Phillips and Fortune tapped home only to see his effort ruled out for a foul on the keeper. Having withstood the pressure Rovers came back into it and skipper, Dan Cleverley, played a ball through to substitute, Kris Miller, who was unfortunate to see his shot deflected off a defender and over the bar. Rovers then spurned a great chance to seal the game as in the 80th minute Lacey went down under a challenge in the box, after a good passing move down the right, only for John to make a fine save from Loxton’s spot kick.

However just two minutes later and Ben Osman’s free kick from wide on the right picked out Cleverley at the back post and although it took a deflection his header found the net to seal a deserved victory and a second successive clean sheet.

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Tovey, Jack Allward (Lee Davidson 76 mins), Marcus Mapstone (Scott Brice 45 mins), Charlie Rich (Kris Miller 67 mins), Craig Loxton, James Billing, Dan Cleverley (C), Ben Osman.
Sub not used: James Vincent

Rovers' Star Man: Stuart Pearson.

Referee: Lewis Price

Assts: John Bishop / Phillip Staynings

Attendance: 145