PAULTON ROVERS 4 WELLS CITY 0

Rovers duly progressed to the Quarter Final of the competition but the score line does not reflect the degree of difficulty experienced in overcoming a resilient Wells City side that can count themselves unfortunate not to have scored at least one goal to show for their efforts.

City were almost ahead in the 2nd minute as Gavin Eyre picked out Ash McGrane, but his shot flashed across goal and was scrambled clear by Stuart Tovey. At the other end Scott Brice headed on a Stuart Pearson long throw, which James Billing just failed to reach and it drifted just wide of the far post. Ryan Crowther had two good chances for Wells, first shooting weakly at Rovers’ keeper, Kyle Phillps, after his initial header had been blocked and then sending another header just wide of the far post. Billing did at least get his header on target in the 13th minute following a great run and cross from James Vincent, but visiting keeper, Ray Johnston made the save look easy. Pearson’s long throws caused the City defence problems all evening and when Brice won another header on, Billing was unlucky to see his volley deflected wide for a corner. Kris Miller then created a chance for Brice with a cross from the left which the Rovers’ defender headed wide before Miller curled a 20 yard free kick just wide of the far post with Johnston static after Vincent had been brought down. Rovers were now in control and Billing failed to get a far post header on target following a great cross from Lee Davidson and Vincent’s header 5 minutes later suffered a similar fete after Billing did well to make space for the cross.

Just as it looked as though the sides would go in at half time on level terms Rovers made the breakthrough 2 minutes into added on time with a neat passing move that ended with Josh Jeffries setting up Miller for a 20 yard, right footed shot that flashed across Johnston and into the far bottom corner of the net.

Having had a chance to equalise 8 minutes after the re-start, when two City players failed to get a touch from a Brian Allen header, the lead was extended in the 57th minute as Vincent neatly headed onto Billing, whose effort on goal was blocked but fell to Jeffries just outside the box and his drive found the corner of the net.

Rovers spurned a great chance to kill the game off on 62 minutes as Vincent won another header and once again Billing was the beneficiary and he sent Miller clear who rounded the keeper, but then fired over the bar. Wells were by no means beaten at this stage and Jake Brown forced a good save from Phillips, diving low to his left and the Rovers’ keeper had a let off when an in-swinging corner from Eyre eluded the keeper but drifted harmlessly wide at the far post.

Rovers third goal on 73 minutes proved a little controversial as Billing blocked a clearance and ran clear to slot home past Johnston despite the assistant flagging for an offside against Miller who the referee adjudged was not interfering with play.

It was now all Rovers who spurned a number of chances as Vincent’s cross just missed the head of Miller only to find Billing who fluffed his shot and then Vincent outpaced the City defence only to fire high and wide, whist substitute, Marcus Mapstone sent a header straight at the keeper from a corner. City brought on Nick Lawton at right back and he almost scored with his first touch, with a chip over Phillips that landed on the roof of the net.

The scoring was competed 5 minutes from the end when Miller released Mapstone who did well to run along the by line before setting up Vincent for a simple tap in and a goal which his overall performance thoroughly deserved.

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Tovey, Lee Davidson (Charlie Rich 65 mins), Stuart Pearson. Scott Brice (C), Josh Jeffries. Dan Cleverley (Marcus Mapstone 65 mins), Steve Bridges, James Billing, Kris Miller, James Vincent.
Sub not used: Ben Lacey

Referee: Mark Lawrence

Assts: Mark Dadds / David Hoareau

Attendance: 77