BISHOPS CLEEVE 0 PAULTON ROVERS 2

Rovers fine run of form continued as they make serene progress to the 2nd round of the League Cup despite a number of changes to the line up.

The first chance of the game fell to the home side in the 4th minute as James Verechi set up his strike partner, Declan Chick, but his volley was off target. At the other end Jack Allward’s free kick saw Ollie Price head straight at the keeper and Dave Stone making his first start for the club saw his 13th minute shot suffer a similar fate.

The closest either side came to a goal in the first half was in the 20th minute as Adam Mahdi crossed from the left for the visitors and picked out Ben Lacey whose shot took a deflection over the keeper and on to the roof of the net. From the resultant corner Price’s header was headed off the line by Steve Jones.

Rovers just about edged the first period but from the restart it was the home side who almost took the lead as Elliot Kennedy’s cross from wide on the right saw Chick at full stretch touch the ball wide of the far post.

It proved a costly miss as in the 48th minute Rovers took the lead. They won a corner on the right and the ball was played deep to Craig Loxton and his ball into the area saw Stone collect and neatly tuck it into the net with the home defence claiming in vain for offside.

Stone almost added a second after good work by Mahdi but it was a defender who finally secured the win the in the 66th minute as Stuart Tovey sent a free kick from inside his own half and Price out jumped everyone to head home.

Rovers could easily have added to their tally as substitute, James Billing, headed straight at the keeper after good work from Lacey but he missed a good chance himself moments later as having outpaced his marker he over ran the ball allowing the keeper to collect it. However the best chance fell to Billing three minutes from time as a ball forward flicked of a defender’s head leaving him clear but his lob cleared both keeper and the bar.

Rovers face a long wait before they know their opponents in the next round as the remainder of the ties will not be played until the first week of November.

Rovers: Phillips, Tovey, Allward, Jeffries, Price, Brice, Mahdi (Nix 69 mins), Loxton, Stone, Cleverley (C) (Billing 55 mins), Lacey.
Subs not used: Taylor, Mapstone.

Referee: Matthew Wilkes
Assts: Stephen Checketts / Simon Lane

Attendance: 67