BISHOPS CLEEVE 0 PAULTON ROVERS 1

Rovers were reduced to 9 men just two minutes into the second half yet still managed to overcome the odds and progress to the First Round of the Competition.

Rovers’ keeper, Kyle Phillips, made an excellent save to deny Elliot Kennedy in the 7th minute after good work from Carl Brown but it proved to be the hosts’ only real chance in a first half that the visitors dominated but somehow failed to score. On 11 minutes Nick Dunn played a ball through to Jamie Taylor but the home keeper, James Nortei, made a fine save, low to his left. Then Josh Jeffries sent Ben Lacey clear and his lob cleared both keeper and the bar.

With skipper, Dan Cleverley, suspended James Billing made a rare start and had a good header saved before on 18 minutes Dunn again sent him clear but his shot was way off target. Lacey then had another chance after an incisive pass from Craig Loxton before on 32 minutes Taylor produced a fine cross from the right that found Jeffries unmarked at the far post but he somehow headed wide.

Things got worse for Jeffries 3 minutes later when despite clearly making contact with the ball the referee produced a red card for the challenge. It made little difference to the game as Taylor played in Lacey again just before the break but he shot weakly across goal and wide of the far post.

Two minutes into the second half Phillips was adjudged to have handled the ball just outside his area and was shown a yellow card and then clearly upset at the decision kicked the ball away only for the referee to produce a second yellow followed by the red and he too departed for an early shower.

If the home side thought their numerical advantage would ensure an easy passage to the next round they were soon left in no doubt as to Rovers resilience as Taylor forced another good save from Nortei and Lacey also had another shot that produced an easier save.

Rovers bagged the winner in the 67th minute as Loxton’s free kick from wide on the left caused some indecision from Nortei as he was caught waiting for a touch from Taylor at the near post that never came and the ball bounced in front of him and found the bottom corner of the net at the far post.
The home side pressed for an equaliser as Brown had an effort curl wide of the post, substitute, Stuart Midwinter, touched a good chance over the bar and Mark Pritchett sent a looping header just wide of the post but Billing who took over in the Rovers’ goal was well protected by his defence although he did well to claim a number of crosses he did not have to make single save.

The home side then had Jake Lee dismissed 4 minutes from time as he was again harshly adjudged to have handled the ball for which he was shown a yellow card and in frustration kicked the ball away and got the inevitable second yellow card.

Rovers: Phillips, Tovey, Allward, Dunn, Mapstone, Brice (C), Jeffries, Loxton, Taylor (Bridges 72 mins), Billing, Lacey (Mahdi 90 mins).
Subs not used: Price, Nix

Referee: Edward Smart
Assts: Thomas Light / Chris Henry

Attendance: 75