HUNGERFORD TOWN 4 PAULTON ROVERS 2

Having finished nine points above their visitors and having been the much better side for nearly 80 minutes of this tie Hungerford Town will feel they deserved this victory, but having overcome a two goal deficit in the final 12 minutes of normal time the momentum looked to have swung Rovers’ way ,until the controversial dismissal of Craig Loxton five minutes into added time.

Playing down the slope in the opening half Town took a deserved 9th minute lead when Dean Stow sent over a cross from the right and the bounce of the ball deceived Scott Brice allowing Mark Draycott to send a well struck corner into the top corner of the net from the edge of the area.

James Clark had a great opportunity to extend the lead on 14 minutes as he latched onto a ball down the left channel but Rovers’ keeper, Kyle Phillips, did well to race from his line and block the shot with his legs. Rovers’ first chance came a minute later with a Brandon Barnes corner from the right, which Joe Bushin at the near post failed to get a significant touch on. Draycott then tested Phillips from a narrow angle having gone past two defenders right down by the right corner flag. Rovers had efforts from Bushin and skipper, Dan Cleverley, clear the bar before right on half time the hosts struck again.

Rovers’ gave the ball away in midfield and a simple pass through the heart of the defence saw Clark race clear and slot the ball past Phillips and into the net from just inside the box.

The home side began the second half well with Luke Brewer sending a shot well wide and then Stow saw his volley deflected for a corner after Phillips had dropped a Sean Wood free kick. From the corner taken on the right Rovers conceded a second, this time from the lef,t which was cleared only as far as Ian Herring who volleyed just over the bar.

Having weathered the storm it was Rovers who now began to finally exert some pressure on the home defence and they got their reward in the 78th minute when Stuart Pearson took a long throw in from the right, which Brice headed on and substitute, James Billing, bundled the ball home at the far post.

Town were now confined to the odd break away and Stow did well to cut in from the right but sent his shot straight at Phillips. At the other end Rovers put together a neat passing move only for Loxton’s shot to be deflected for a corner, which was easily cleared.

Rovers drew level right at the end of normal time when home skipper, Matt Day, was penalised for a raised boot when Billing attempted to get in a header. Barnes’ free kick from the right hand corner of the box picked out Brice at the far post who headed home.

There was still time for Town to mount a further attack as Herring’s long throw from the right was headed out by Brice to Clark who sent his shot just wide of the post. Then 5 minutes into injury time Loxton went down in what looked a foul but after initially allowing play to continue the referee stopped the game. Loxton did not require treatment and from the restart was adjudged to have gone over the top on a contested drop ball and was shown a straight red card. Day then had a volley curl just wide of the post before the whistle went to send the game into extra time.

It took the home side just 6 minutes to take advantage of their numerical advantage and again there was more than a hint of controversy as Billing was adjudged to have pushed a Town player in the area and Draycott converted the penalty.

The second period of extra time saw the hosts add a 4th as a tiring Rovers’ defence saw a ball played through the right channel to Brewer who raced clear and calmly slotted the ball home.

Town should have added a 5th when Diak John went on a great run down the left and picked out Wood, but with an open goal at his mercy he fired wide. Rovers never gave up and should have grabbed a consolation minutes from the end as Ben Lacey and Nick McCootie combined well down the right and the latter sent over a ball that picked out Billing, who somehow managed to clear the bar with his touch.

Rovers will feel aggrieved that their league season ended in controversy and unfortunately complaints to the match officials saw the dismissal of manager, Nick Bunyard and keeper Phillips.However over the full season Town deserve their chance to entertain either Merthyr Town or Swindon Supermarine on Bank Holiday Monday (3 pm KO).

Rovers: Kyle Phjillips, Stuart Pearson, Mike Reaney, Marcus Mapstone, Scott Brice, Brandon Barnes, Craig Loxton, Ben Lacey, Joe Bushin (James Billing 62 mins), Dan Cleverley (C) (Ben Osman 83 mins), Nick McCootie
Subs not used: Josh Jeffries, Stuart Tovey, Steve Bridges.

Referee: Andrew Newell

Assts: Mark Dadds / Alan Berrow

4th Official: Adam Ricketts

Attendance: 219