PAULTON ROVERS 3 LARKHALL ATHLETIC 1

Rovers progressed to the semi finals with a far from convincing performance against Toolstation Western League side, Larkhall Athletic, on a bitterly cold night at Winterfield Road.

The hosts spurned a great chance to open the scoring in the 2nd minute when an excellent move down the right saw Brandon Barnes cross pick out James Billing but he missed the ball with his right foot and it struck he standing left leg and rebounded to Ben Osman, whose follow up effort was well blocked by a defender. At the other end a quick throw in from the left saw Tyler Sibbick go clear but his shot from a narrow angle went into the side netting with home keeper, Kyle Phillips, appearing to have it covered. Barnes had a long range effort easily saved, while at the other end Thomas Welch fired over the bar after good work from Joe Strading and Jamie Lyons. Both sides continued to play some neat passing football without really threatening although Billing had a chance on 22 minutes when a quick break saw the referee play a good advantage allowing Barnes to set up his striker, but his attempted lob over the keeper was easily saved.

With the half coming to a close with seemingly no sign of a goal it was the visitors who made the breakthrough 2 minutes from the interval. Osman gave away possession in midfield, the referee again played a good advantage and a simple ball through the left channel saw Welch clear and he clipped the ball over the diving Phillips and into the net.

Rovers almost equalised immediately when a Barnes corner from the left picked out skipper, Dan Cleverley, but his header was cleared off the line by Luke Scott.

If Rovers were disappointing in the first half their performance at the start of the second period was even worse as they were restricted to hopeful balls forward, which the Larks defence handled easily. Osman breaking from midfield looked their most likely hope for an equaliser but he was denied by a good challenge from Andy Gilbert and then minutes later shot straight at keeper, Chris Snoddy. The visitors had a great chance to double their lead on 66 minutes when, after a great run that took him past two defenders, Sibbick set up Lyons but his shot cleared the bar.

The home side levelled on 71 minutes when another ball forward saw Barnes win the header and Osman’s effort seemed to take a deflection off a defender and loop over Snoddy into the net.

Rovers now took control and after Osman had sent a shot over the bar after a header down by Scott Brice from a free kick, they completed the comeback with a second goal on 77 minutes. Cleverley’s ball forward saw Barnes lay the ball off to Billing and his return ball saw Barnes race away and curl a superb left foot shot around Snoddy and into the far bottom corner of the net.

The home side made the game with a third goal on 86 minutes when Jack Allward fired in a left footed drive from 30 yards that Snoddy did well to reach but couldn’t hold and Osman following up had an easy tap in.

Rovers will be relieved to go into the draw for the semi final but will all too aware they will need to play better than this if they are to seriously mount a challenge for this trophy.

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Pearson, Jack Allward, Marcus Mapstone (Lee Davidson 45 mins), Scott Brice, Ben Osman. Craig Loxton, Steve Bridges, James Billing, Dan Cleverley (C), Brandon Barnes.
Subs not used: Josh Collins, Josh Jeffries, Jacob Sloggett

Referee: Paul Rees

Assts: Savvas Yianni / David Hoareau