PAULTON ROVERS 3 v 1 TAUNTON TOWN

Paulton Rovers won their first FA Cup tie since overcoming Chippenham Town 5 years ago beating Taunton Town to take the £3000 prize money for the winners.

This was a workman like Paulton performance overcoming their local Somerset rivals Taunton who were previously unbeaten and top of Division 1 South & West. The win was despite Jon Davies (injured) and Ollie Knowles (unavailable), whilst Nick McCootie was rested to the bench to give his tight hamstring problem some respite. Also on the bench was Ben Lacey returning from

Jamie Short had the first chance for Town after 3 minutes and Rovers responded when Josh Klein-Davies threaded the ball through the visiting defence only for Mike Bryant to be ruled narrowly offside. Then Ashley Williams and Brandon Barnes both had shots cleared.

Paulton were on top and with threatening crosses from Jordan Walker, Dean Evans and Klein-Davies were pressurising keeper Joe Perry and his defence.

From an Evans corner on the left Barnes knocked the ball into the area where captain Scott Brice nodded back to Bryant whose shot was saved by Perry. Town hit back and Ben Carter missed the target after being set up by Shane Kingston.

Five minutes later Paulton snatched the lead. Walker picked out Williams in acres of space, his neat pass down the right wing found Klein-Davies and his low cross was hammered home by Mike Bryant.

Carter, Steve Murray and Short all tested home stopper Kyle Phillips but to no avail. Phillips dominating each aerial challenge plucking the ball in the air or firmly punching the ball away to ease any pressure on his back line.

Rovers deservedly made it 2-0 after 42 minutes as Klein-Davies broke the off side trap passed to Bryant whose low drive beat Perry.

On 59 minutes Brett Trowbridge missed an open goal for Taunton, his under hit attempt was cleared off the line by Brice, whilst at the other Klein-Davies blasted wide with the goal seemingly at his mercy.

'The Peacock's' tried to get back in the game and striker Murray had several opportunities but Brice and his men were determined to keep a clean sheet.

After fifty five minutes Klein-Davies received the ball from Walker turned and hit a superb low shot beating Perry with the ball slamming against the foot of the post and bouncing away.

On sixty six minutes Bryant was fouled and Walker hit a free kick deep on the left met by Brice's who out jumped the Town defenders only to head narrowly over the crossbar.

Then a slick inter-passing involving Williams, Klein-Davies, Bryant and finally Walker saw his volley narrowly wide of the target.

Rovers made it 3-0 on 79 minutes as Phillips long kick out from his area was misjudged by Owen Irish at the heart of 'Peacock's' defence and Klein-Davies ran on to roll the ball into the corner of the net past a despairing Parry.

Taunton fought hard to get back in the game without any real threat with Tom Seary keeping a close eye on dangerous Murray though they did a pulled a consolation goal out of the bag with 2 minutes left when Short shot passed Phillips.

Paulton Rovers - Kyle Phillips, Stuart Tovey, Jordan Walker (sub - Ben Lacey 72 minutes), Tom Seary, Scott Brice, Dean Evans, Brandon Barnes (Keiran Baggs 81), Marcus Mapstone,, Ashley Williams, Mike Bryant, Josh Klein-Davies. Subs not - used: Josh Jeffries, Callum Hinder, Nick McCootie, Adam Flint

Man of the match - Mike Bryant (Paulton Rovers)