CLEVEDON TOWN 2 PAULTON ROVERS 1

Clevedon deservedly progressed in the competition against a Rovers’ side robbed of several key players through injuries picked up in the tough encounters at Poole Town and North Leigh.

The first opening fell to the visitors on 5 minutes but Jack Nix sent his shot across Jason Matthews and wide of the far post. Clevedon took the lead in the 10th minute through their influential skipper, Ashley Kington, who tried a speculative shot from 25 yards which bounced just in front of debutant, Jon Harvey and although the young keeper got hands to it he couldn’t keep it out of the net.

Rovers spurned a great chance to equalise within 2 minutes as acting skipper, Scott Brice, was allowed a free header from a Steve Bridges’ corner but he failed to get his effort on target. Then on 17 minutes the game saw its first substitution but in the unlikely form of the injured referee having to be replaced!

Rovers did equalise on 28 minutes with a fine individual goal from Jamie Taylor who, having collected the ball on the right, turned inside and fired home a right foot shot from 25 yards, low to Matthews’ left.

It spurred the home side on and they finished the half strongly although they missed a number of half chances and were denied on 41 minutes by a fine save from Harvey collecting a shot from Leigh Edward-Samuels.

However it took Clevedon less than 2 minutes to re-establish their lead after the interval with an excellent move down the right with Chas Hemmings having an easy tap in after excellent work from Edward-Samuels.

The home side were desperately unlucky not to increase their lead as Harvey made another good save to thwart George Brimson and Kington saw his 25 yard shot in the 58th minute somehow come back off both posts! Rovers did get the ball in the net on 71 minutes but the referee adjudged Matthews had been impeded in coming for Ben Osman’s free kick.

Rovers barely threatened and Clevedon finished strongly as Josh Jeffries was fortunate to see his sliced clearance just clear the bar and Harvey twice produced good saves from substitute, Reeko Best.

Rovers: Harvey, Osman, Bridges, Dunn, Price, Brice (C), Nix, Jeffries, Billing (Bradley 64 mins), Taylor, Gay (Loxton 76 mins)
Subs not used: Cleverley, Lacey, Phillips

Rovers' Star Man: Jamie Taylor

Referee: Richard Corp (Adam Penwell after 17 mins)
Assts: Kevin Williams / Adam Fricker

Attendance: 75