HITCHIN TOWN 1 v 0 PAULTON ROVERS

Football pundits say 'what goes around comes around', 'you get what you deserve' well whatever the likes of Messer's Lineker and Shearer might say Paulton Rovers manager Nick Bunyard certainly does not feel at present his side are getting a share of the spoils or the rub of the green.

On Monday night lost away at Hitchin Town made frustratingly worse by several very poor crucial decisions by the referee in a game they had the greater share of play, possession and chances.

A highly disputed penalty 5 minutes from time scored by Lewis Rolfe gave the home an undeserved 3 points h
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Hitchin started brightly, with Robbie Burns making useful runs through the visiting defence. The through balls to him were just too heavy though and Rovers keeper Kyle Phillips was alert enough to get to the ball first.

Burns' made a well-timed run and whipped in a cross. It was a good cross but the home forwards were a little slow to react and an opportunity was missed.

Brandon Barnes found space on the left, however his long range shot was, well off-target.

Hitchin's Garry Jones also tried his luck from long range. His initial shot was well blocked although the ball fell back to him to give him a second chance he mistimed his strike of the ball and it swerved well off-target.

Paulton had a good chance when, on a counter-attack, the ball was switched over to Keiran Baggs. Baggs lost his marker and made a run around the back of the Hitchin defence. It looked like a cross was on the cards but Baggs' touch was just too heavy and the ball went out of play for a goal-kick.

Matt Lench made several runs up the wing. After winning a corner, Burns played a clever ball in to him, thwarted by Scott Brice who got in front of Lench and cleared the ball from his path.

Tinashe Chabata headed across the face of goal from a Charlie Smith cross, rather than towards it.

The visitors launched several attacks with Jon Davies showing his skill with the ball as he raced up field.

Hitchin goalkeeper Martin Bennett saved his side on a number of occasions he was quick off of his line - the best of those coming as he stopped a shot from Nick McCootie who lost his marker Lewis Rolfe and was all but free to get a clean shot away but Bennett rushed out and spread himself wide and the ball was cleared to safety.

McCootie was in action moments later but his long-range effort was well wide. Then he should have put his side 1-0 up when a dangerous cross from Barnes, combined with poor defending, left the striker completely unmarked with a free header which went wide of the post.

A foul on Burns just outside the area gave Smith the opportunity to put a useful ball in to a crowded box. The free-kick sailed over to Brett Donnelly but his header, flicked on backwards, went well over the bar.

It was the visitors who started the second-half the brighter side and Davies had an early shot on goal, although it was an easy save for Bennett.

Minutes later Bennett pulled off a fine save to deny Ashley Williams, with the home keeper getting down quickly to direct the ball out for a corner. The corner created an overcrowded box which Paulton failed to capitalise on, it did leave Donnelly and Rolfe down injured as they collided with each other in the box.

Rovers created a number of good chance thanks to McCootie. who once again lost his marker but once again couldn't beat 'sweeper keeper' Bennett, who rushed out quickly to deny the Paulton forward yet another opportunity.

Then the drama five minutes from normal time was finally broken by the lively winger Jonny McNamara ran into the area and Brice who appeared to have made an excellent timely tackle was adjudged by the referee to have committed a foul. Lewis Rolfe stepped up to beat Phillips to put the Canaries in front.

More drama followed two minutes later as Rovers had a clear penalty shout of their own when Mike Bryant was tugged and pushed in the box by Rolfe with their protests ignored by the referee.

The last piece of action was a free-kick taken by Ollie Knowles for a Smith foul. The kick was wasted as it evaded everyone except Bennett who held the ball easily.

Paulton Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Tovey (Elliott Gibbons sub 80 mins.), Marcus Mapstone, Keiran Baggs, Scott Brice, Brandon Barnes, Ollie Knowles, Ashley Williams, Mike Bryant, Jon Davies, Nick McCootie. Unused Subs: Josh Jeffries, Tom Seary, Callum Hinder

Hitchin Town: Bennett, Rolfe, Walster, Ann, Chabata, Jones (Barker 61'), McNamara, Lench, Donnelly, Burns (Martin 75'), Smith. Unused Subs: King, Wharton, Ironton

Man of the match - Ashley Williams (Paulton Rovers)

HItchin M.o.M. - Martin Bennett

Attendance: 237