BRIDGWATER TOWN 1 PAULTON ROVERS 3

Rovers progressed to the 2nd Round of the League cup with a deserved 3-1 win over local rivals, Bridgwater Town at Fairfax Park.

After an even opening it was the visitors who opened the scoring on 16 minutes when skipper, Ryan Shaw, played a ball inside full back, Tyne Govier and with keeper, Dan Jackson, racing from his line indecision allowed Kailan Gould to block the attempted clearance leaving the young Rovers’ striker with the easiest of finishes.

Rovers had a chance to double their lead just 3 minutes later but Jackson made amends for his earlier error saving well at the feet of Will Hailston after Gould had sent him through having collected a clearing header from Alex Grimshaw. The hosts responded but Ed Baldy comfortably saved efforts from Harry Horton and Ben Palmer. Rovers then began to dominate as the half ended as Hailston sent a 20 yard effort just wide following a Gould header and Jordan Ricketts set up Nathan Legge for a shot across the keeper that went just wide of the far post.

However he lead was doubled right on half time with an excellent passing move that saw Hailston find Gould, whose pass inside the defender allowed Legge to fire home a right footed drive from just inside the area.

Legge had a chance to add a decisive third 6 minutes after the restart but his header from a Hailston cross went over the bar. Then two minutes later Rovers needlessly conceded a corner from the left and Jake Horsey stuck out a leg only to see his effort go just wide of the far post.

The visitors failed to heed the warning as the hosts reduced the arrears on 56 minutes with a scrambled corner from the right and although keeper, Ed Baldy, got a hand to it he couldn’t keep out Horsey’s final touch.

Rovers had another great chance to seal the win as a corner from the left went beyond the far post and substitute, Sol Wheatley volleyed the ball back across goal where Josh Ford sent his header agonisingly just wide. With Town now forced to go for the equaliser they were always in danger of being caught on the break and Ford released Hailston who picked out the overlapping James Byrne, who cut inside and saw his shot blocked and Legge’s overhead kick cleared the bar.

Rovers completed the scoring on 65 minutes as Hailston found Legge in the left channel and his shot across goal was touched home by substitute Elliott Gibbons.

Gould went close with an outrageous effort from wide on the left as Jackson inexplicably raced outside his box with no chance of winning the race to the ball while at the other end George Kellow on as a substitute tested Baldy with a good shot right on the final whistle.

Rovers: Ed Baldy, James Byrne, Elliott Keightley, Alex Grimshaw, Josh Ford, Ryan Shaw (C) (Sol Wheatley 53), Will Hailston, Ibrahima Diallo (Elliott Gibbons 45), Nathan Legge, Jordan Ricketts, Kailan Gould (Reeko Best 80) Subs not used: Corey Rawlings, Andrew Hannah.

Man of The match: Kailan Gould (Rovers)

Match report from Andy Harris.