FROME TOWN 3 PAULTON ROVERS 2 (AET)

Rovers lost 3-2 after extra time to Premier League Frome Town in the third round Red Insure Southern League tie.

Frome dominated for most of the first thirty minutes when chances for the impressive Darren Jeffries and Mark Cooper were foiled by a resilient Paulton defence well marshalled by Scott Brice.

Cooper shot from close range after five minutes was superbly tipped over the bar by Rovers keeper Kyle Phillips and moments later Jeffries looping lob sailed over the visitors bar.

Both sides had a series of ineffective corners all of which were cleared. On 15 minutes ex-Bath City striker Dave Gilroy broke through the middle played the ball into Frome captain Dean Evans but the former Paulton and Welton Rovers man finish was poor.

Brad Norris tried a 30 yard shot for Paulton which went over the bar whilst at the other end Phillips comfortably held a high cross from Cooper.

Against the run of play Paulton opened the scoring play through James Billing in the thirty fifth minute. Brice played the ball up to Ben Lacey who controlled the ball and crossed for Billing to volley passed home keeper Darren Chitty.

The second half showed a more determined Rovers going down the slope. Charlie Rich could not quite reach Ben Osman's well placed free kick. Dean Evans played in Cooper who shot wide whilst Rob Hobbs tried a neat chip over the Rovers defence to find Jeffries but the ball ran on and out of play.

Darren Jeffries tried to chip Phillips who held on to the ball easily. Paulton had two chances on the hour firstly a snap shot from Stuart Pearson was tipped over by Chitty for a corner which was cleared. However in the follow up the ball fell to Rich whose cross was headed wide by Brice.

Both sides seem content to run down the clock and used all their substitutes.

However there was one last throw of the dice following a Frome corner which was cleared and fell to substitute Martin Johnston who hit a thunderbolt from fully thirty yards to give his side an equaliser in the third minute of added time.

Neither side looked enamoured by the prospect of extra time and the first ten minutes showed that. In the 102 minute a headed Frome clearance dropped to Marcus Mapstone twenty five yards out and his volley sailed passed Chitty to put Paulton 2-1 up.

Two minutes later Frome made it 2-2 when a free kick by Jeffries on the left was touch home by Josh Brigham. Rovers players seemed to make a justified protest that there was another player in an offside position that impeded Phillips.

Unfortunately the referee seemed to look to his assistant who was not up with play and allowed the goal to stand.

With the game heading towards a penalty shootout with seven minutes to go, the referee awarded what can only be described as a soft penalty when Frome sub Claudio Herbert lost out to a challenge from Brice and Pearson and he pointed to the spot. Brigham converted the penalty to give the home side a 3-2 win.

Paulton team-
Kyle Phillips, Ben Osman. Jack Allward, Stuart Peason, Scott Brice (C), Marcus Mapstone, Josh Jeffries, Ben Lacey, James Billing (Joe Vyner 70 mins), Brad Norris (Craig Loxton 85), Charlie Rich (Steve Bridges 58)

Subs not used- James Vincent, Nick McCootie

Paulton man of the match - Scott Brice