PORTLAND UNITED 0 v 3 PAULTON ROVERS

THIS ARTICLE AND MATCH REPORTS ARE THE COPYRIGHT PROPERTY OF PAULTON ROVERS AND MUST NOT BE COPIED WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION AND AGREEMENT OF TONY WALSH OR MATT REDWWOD ON BEHALF OF P.R.F.C.

Paulton eased into the next round against a plucky Portland side who are the current champions of the Wessex League.

With the wind in their favour United pressed the Rovers back line who soaked up all that was thrown at them.

Paulton went ahead on 7 minutes as Dale Evans corner on the right was headed firmly home by central defender Joe Chandler.

Chandler and Sam Hedges defended well to stop the home attack and keeper Keiran Hodges made full use of playing the ball out to his full backs Camen Harvey on the right and Josh Cann on the left.

Paulton came out more attacking in the second half and captain Evans and Joe Guest were running midfield looking for the width of James Byrne and Kailan Gould who keep swapping wings giving their markers a difficult task.

Rovers added a second on 55 minutes as Hodges rolled the ball out to Harvey and his through ball found Sam Hillard running onto the ball and he lobbed the keeper into an open net.

Alex Godfrey had several chances for Portland and Gould responded by clipped the crossbar.

Sub Joe White replaced the hard working centre forward Omar Simpson and Jack Ball on for Hillard and two new men combined only to see White missed the target from only a yard out as he looked certain to score. On the coach home he was the butt of some good natured banter from his team mates.

On 85 minutes it was 3-0 as Evans laid the ball to Gould who found Joe White on the left and his low cross was turned home by Ball to score his first goal for Paulton.

Portland are a very hospitable club and were magnanimous in defeat. Their facilities are better than some clubs in the Southern League and Rovers wish them well in their promotion endeavours.

Man of the Match = Dale Evans (Paulton Rovers)
Entertainment Value 4 out of 5

THIS ARTICLE AND MATCH REPORTS ARE THE COPYRIGHT PROPERTY OF PAULTON ROVERS AND MUST NOT BE COPIED WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION AND AGREEMENT OF TONY WALSH OR MATT REDWWOD ON BEHALF OF P.R.F.C.