Rovers denied equalizer at the end

Paulton travelled to 'The Gore' home of Calor Southern League Premier Division side Burnham (Bucks) in the 2nd Qualifying Round of the Carlsberg FA Trophy which is worth £3250 to the winners.

Paulton were hoping to get past the Buckinghamshire club to make the furthest advance ever in the FA Trophy.

Both sides started brightly, but gradually the home strike force of Ryan Black and Marc Charles-Smith were proving a handful to the Rovers defence.

The two combined on 13 minutes to put Burnham in front. Black cut down the right wing and his low cross was tucked into the net by Charles-Smith.

Paulton had chances with Scott Brice twice heading over from Brandon Barnes corners and James Billing and Nick McCootie combining well with no visable end product.

Apart from the Burnham goal neither keeper was tested in the first half, notable for some inconsistant decisions by the officials with a host of bookings despite very few apparent fouls.

Both teams started the second half in a more determined mood. Charles-Smith brought a save from Kyle Smith as the Rovers keeper parried the shot then gathered the ball.

Mike Perrott and Barnes tested Michael Watkins in the home goal and then a long ball from Dean Evans elluded his forwards.

The seventy second minute saw the miss of the game when Charles-Smith's shot was blocked by Marcus Mapstone, the ball fell to Lee Togwell who from four yards out hit the post and missed the rebound.

Three minutes later Burnham made it 2-0 Charles-Smith ran along the byline unchallenged and slipped the ball to Togwell who made no mistake this time turning the ball past Phillips.

A minute later Rovers were back in the game when Josh Klein-davies on as sub for Billing received the ball on the edge of the penalty area after McCootie won a header which perrott flicked to JKD. The Paulton strike swivelled and turn to hit a low drive past Watkins to make it 2-1.

As seemingly yellow cards flowed like confetti Burnham's Lewis Driver one those booked in the first half was shown a second for a foul only the referee saw. To the astonishment of both sides and spectators.

Watkins and his counterpart Phillips were both kept busy with Phillips pulling off one superb save from Burnham sub Ash Smith and Evans testing Watkins.

In injury time Rovers won a corner taken by Barnes on right right. His in swinging effort caused confusion with McCootie striking the crossbar and Perrot who was behind McCootie heading home the rebound.

However the assistant flagged for offside against Perrott despite their being two Burnham players stood on the goal line.

Controversial to say the least and summed up the officials afternoon who by the way succeeded in booking nine players by the end. For Paulton's part they can be bitterly disappointed not to have bagged the replay they deserved against a good side.

Paulton Rovers-Kyle Phillips, Dean Evans, Marcus Mapstone, Scott Brice, Mike Reaney, Brandon Barnes, Mike Perrott, Ben Lacey, James Billing (sub Josh Klein-Davies 59 mins), Dan Cleverley, Nick McCootie

Subs not used - Josh Jeffries, Ollie Price, Paddy Doyle

Paulton man of the match - Dean Evans