PAULTON ROVERS 3 BATH CITY 2

Rovers progressed to the final of the Somerset Premier Cup, a competition they have yet to win, with another excellent team performance against Blue Square South, Bath City.

The hosts began well, Joe Bushin looking to set up James Billing in the opening minute but a timely intervention from Mark Preece stopped him getting his shot away. However just 2 minutes later and Rovers should have been ahead as a poor goal kick from the 'Roman's' keeper, Jason Mellor, went straight to Billing some 30 yards out and he collected it and got to the penalty area before blazing his shot over the bar. City’s first threat came on 6 minutes as a ball into the area which was first headed out by Scott Brice and then Lee Davidson but only as far as Marc Canham, whose shot from distance cleared the bar by some margin.

The deadlock was broken on 12 minutes with an excellent Rovers move down the left. Ben Osman ran into the area, twisted and turned while holding off 2 defenders before laying the ball back to Steve Bridges for a left footed cross to the near post where Billing was on hand to head home.

The lead was almost doubled on 18 minutes when Bridges sent over a corner from the right, which saw Bushin win the header only to see it blocked on the line and scrambled clear.

City drew level against the run of play on 21 minutes with a long ball forward, which was flicked on to a suspiciously looking offside, Charlie Griffin, but with the assistant’s flag staying down he showed great composure to advance and slot the ball past a helpless Kyle Phillips in the Rovers’ goal.

The visitors then enjoyed a good spell as Marcus Mapstone was called upon to make a great block from a Griffin shot and then as Rovers failed to deal with a Canham free kick the ball broke to Griffin, who sent his shot from the right across Phillips and wide of the far post. Rovers rallied towards the end of the half and Bushin twice had efforts on target only to see Mellor save comfortably and in the closing minutes had an appeal for a hand ball in the box turned down.

The second half began in dramatic style as first City sent over a cross from the left, which Davidson headed out to Canham, whose volley was superbly clawed away by Phillips. Then in the 47th minute Bushin tried to play a cross field ball from the left to James Vincent and although Ryan Mitchell cut it out, the ball stuck under his feet, Vincent robbed him and unleashed a tremendous right foot shot across Mellor and into the far top corner of the net.

The visitors seemed stunned by the reverse and Rovers enjoyed a good spell of pressure culminated in a third goal on 58 minutes as Davidson swung over a left footed cross from the left wing and former City player, Josh Jeffries, at the far post, headed in from close range.

City were unfortunate not to reduce the arrears on 65 minutes as they were awarded a free kick some 25 yards out in a central position and Griffin’s effort cleared the wall only to strike the bar with Phillips well beaten. Rovers’ keeper then produced a good save to thwart a long range effort from Kerry Morgan. However Rovers still carried a threat as first Brice and then Billing sent headers wide before they went close to adding a 4th goal in the 77th minute. Substitute, Brandon Barnes, sent over a free kick, which Vincent headed on for Brice whose header was well blocked by Mellor but the ball dropped to Billing who fired across goal and wide of the far post from a narrow angle.

With three minutes of the tie remaining City grabbed a lifeline when Davidson conceded a free kick wide on the Bath right and Canham’s free kick picked out Griffin at the far post who headed in what proved to be no more than a consolation goal.

Overall Rovers deserved the win that sees them meet either Bridgwater Town or Taunton Town in the final to be played at The Hand Stadium, Clevedon on Tuesday 7th of May (7.45 pm KO).

You can listen again to the Somer Valley FM broadcast by clicking here

Rovers: Phillips, Tovey, Davidson, Mapstone (Pearson 56 mins), Brice (C)(Cottle79 mins), Jeffries, Vincent, Osman, Billing, Bushin (53 mins), Bridges.
Subs not used: Loxton, Cleverley.

Referee: David Ricketts

Assts: Stephen Fearnley / Kristian Gould

Attendance: 307