PAULTON ROVERS 1 v 0 REDDITCH UNITED

A thrilling encounter evenly contested, great winning goal for Paulton, but spoilt by the referee handing out yellow cards like confetti, largely to the amazement of both sets of supporters and players. The six shown to Redditch is likely to result in the imposition of a heavy fine by the FA and the five shown to the home side tots up to suspensions on the horizon to an already injury ravaged squad.

Rovers won a series of corners from the start with 'The Red's ' responding through Jamie Spencer's shot well held by Paulton keeper Kyle Phillips. Then a lovely curling volley from Brandon Barnes was narrowly wide of the visitor's goal.

After nine minutes Phillips produced a great save from Rikardo Reid and the same player saw another chance go begging as he over ran the ball and the keeper was on hand to smother the ball.

A period of end to end play with plenty of misplaced passes was broken on twenty two minutes. Jordan Walker's cross from the left hit the referee setting up Dean Evans who drove towards the top corner of the net only to see the ball dip over the cross bar.

Evans and Walker were prominent in most Paulton attacks and Jon Davies hit a shot wide. On thirty five minutes a whipped cross from Dan Scarr was met by Spencer who headed weakly wide.

Redditch had a great chance to go a head in the fifty third minute when Reid broke through heading for goal Phillips narrowed his angle preventing what seemed a certain goal. Then two minutes minute later Phillips brilliantly tipped over the bar a close range shot from Spencer.

Three minutes later Paulton seemed to have a certain penalty Scott Wilson making his home debut for Rovers got behind the United defence only to be denied a goal scoring opportunity when fouled by Scarr. Amazingly the referee awarded a free kick five yards outside the area and only showed the Redditch defender a yellow card and booked Paulton captain Scott Brice for protesting at the poor decision.

Davies first set up Wilson whose shot was straight at the keeper Bradley Catlow, then followed up with a pile driver parried by Catlow which Rovers could not capitalize on.

With seven minutes left Paulton won a foul on Mike Bryant on the edge of the penalty box near the right byline. Barnes chipped in a firm free kick met by a bullet header from man of the match Evans who rose above the much taller Redditch defenders past an unsighted Catlow and into the net to make it 1-0.

Redditch pressed a right back Jordan Jones thundered a shot cleared off the line by another home debutant Adam Flint.

Then Paulton pressed for a second in the dying minutes with subs Josh Klein-Davies and Elliott Gibbons testing Catlow who looked a very competent keeper.

Man of the match Dean Evans (Paulton Rovers)

Entertainment 4 out of 5

Paulton Rovers - Kyle Phillips, Stuart Tovey, Adam Flint, Jordan Walker, Scott Brice (C), Brandon Barnes (Keiran Baggs 89 mins) , Dean Evans, Ashley Williams, Mike Bryant, Scott Wilson Josh Klein-Davies 85), Jon Davies (Elliott Gibbons 78)