McCootie hat trick seals Rovers win

Paulton travelled to Kayte's Lane home of league rivals Bishops Cleeve for the preliminary round of the FA Carlberg Trophy which saw Nick McCootie hit a hat trick to give Paulton assistant manager Paul Milsom a great present for his 40th birthday.

Rovers set about their task from the off and after Mike Perrott put a chance over the bar, McCootie opened his account in the fifth minute racing on to a through ball from Ben Lacey he outpaced the home defence.

Cleeve keeper Jamie Moore tried to tackle the Paulton man just outside the penalty area but McCootie got to the ball first and it sailed into the net.

'The Mitre's' pressed rarely testing Kyle Phillips and the Rovers defence which saw Dean Evans having a solid game at left back.

With Paulton pressing for a second it was no surprise that that man McCootie should nab the goal in the thirty third minute.

Brandon Barnes intercepted a pass down the left wing cut inside, slipped the ball to McCootie who hit a hard low shot past a dispairing Moore.

Cleeve who had a number of players with experience at Cheltenham Town or are students at Harpbury College played some sharp passing movements and Joe Hanks looks an impressive find.

However three minutes into the second half Paulton made it 3-0. Barnes again won the ball on the left wing and his pin point cross found the head of McCootie to complete his hat trick. Nick and heading a ball are unique to the eyes of Paulton fans and the fifty or so in the crowd were some what dismayed but delighted.

Within a minute Cleeve should have pulled one back. Phillips brought down Lorcan Sheenan and Hanks spot kick was easily saved by the Paulton keeper.

That was to be to the home sides cost. On fifty seven minutes Barnes left footed corner from the right was met by Perrott who thumped the ball past Moore to make it 4-0.

Cleeve did pull one pack after sixty six minutes when a long ball from left back Lewis Binns was not dealt with by the Rovers defence and substitute Louis Barnfather shot passed Phillips.

That brought a period of sustained pressure with Paulton sat back on their laurels with occasional breaks although James Billing and sub Josh Klein-Davies, who both had chances to add to the total.

Paulton Rovers-Kyle Phillips, Ollie Price, Marcus Mapstone, Scott Brice, Dean Evans, Brandon Barnes, Mike Perrott, Ben Lacey (sub Josh Jeffries 63 mins), James Billing, Dan Cleverley, Nick McCootie (Josh Klein-Davies 60)

Sub not used Mike Reaney

Man of the match Nick McCootie (Paulton Rovers)