TIVERTON TOWN 1 v 4 PAULTON ROVERS

Paulton manager Nick Bunyard opted to rest club captain Dan Cleverley, striker James Billing, winger Ben Lacey and long serving Josh Jeffries to the bench where they were joined by 16 years old Dan Cottle who would have figured more had it not been for injury.

He gave debuts to teenagers Brandon Barnes and Joe Vyner as well as bringing Ben Osman and James Vincent to complete the changes from last Saturday's 3-1 win at Cirencester, as the Southern League rule is a club must play seven players who started the last two league games.

On a heavy pitch Paulton immediately took the game to Tivvy stretching their defence. 17 years old Vyner was wide with a header, whilst his strike partner Nick McCootie was a constant threat.

In the second minute Craig Loxton brought the ball forward laid it to left back Charlie Rich whose cross was controlled by McCootie, but his shot was held by Town keeper, Chris Wright.

Tivvy were reduced to long range shots from defenders Lewis Tasker and Russell Jess comfortably held by Kyle Philips in the Paulton goal. Then Andy Taylor crossed for Jules Emati-Emati to head wide.

On 14 minutes Stuart Tovey played a long ball to Barnes on the left. he outplaced the defence to slot the ball passed Wright to give Rovers a deserved 1-0 lead.

Paulton continued to be on top with little penetration from the Tivvy midfield. In the 28th minute it was 2-0 for the visitors when youngsters Barnes and Vyner combined for the latter to coolly shot home from 12 yards past a despairing Wright.

The rejuvenated Rovers were seeking a third and it came ten minutes later. Vincent fed McCootie who turned in the penalty area, but his marker, Adam Faux, took his ankle and the referee, Mr Turner, pointed to the penalty spot. There was no apparent appeal from the home side and the official did not feel that the offence warranted a yellow card.

However as Osman put the ball on the spot, the offender made a remark, which was deemed to be foul and abusive language, and was shown a red card and dismissed.

Osman comfortably beat Wright to make it 3-0.

Tiverton tried to get back into the game but their efforts were thwarted by good defence from captain Scott Brice, Stuart Tovey and Stuart Pearson and tidied up by Phillips as the half time whistle blew.

With the rain pouring down it was more of the same from Paulton with rare sorties of any danger from the home side. James Billing replaced an impressive performance from Nick McCootie in the 55th minute. Presumably Bunyard was thinking ahead to Saturday's home game against Winchester. McCootie's work rate and contribution to an all round team performance has to be acknowledged. he played a role in all three Paulton goals.

Tiverton were increasing adding to their problems in that four players received yellow cards with only Osman for Rovers entering the ref's notebook.

Jeffries came on for Loxton and Vincent came off to give Dan Cottle his first team competitive debut.

Both substitute were involved in the start of the move for Paulton's fourth goal in the eight eighth minutes. Bringing the ball out of midfield the ball was laid to Vyner who raced away to square to Barnes who went around the keeper to roll the ball into an empty net for 4-0.

In added time a scramble following a corner gave Emati-Emati a consolation goal, much to the disappointed of Phillips and co. desperate to keep a clean sheet.

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Tovey, Charlie Rich, Stuart Pearson, Scott Brice, Craig Loxton (Josh Jeffries 71 mins), Ben Osman, James Vincent (Dan Cottle 79), Nick McCootie (James Billing 55 mins), Joe Vyner, Brandon Barnes

Subs not used: Ben Lacey, Dan Cleverley

Referee: Mr Andrew Turner
Assts: Mike Curtis / Ian Loader

Attendance 87