PAULTON ROVERS 3 v 0 HITCHEN TOWN

Paulton manager Nick Bunyard was delighted with a busy second half performance that saw his side comfortably gain a solid win over Hitchen Town.

Hitchen had a horrendous four hour journey with problems on the M4 arriving late with the kick off delayed by half an hour to 8-00 p.m.

Shanye Anson made his debut a left back from Cirencester Town and replaced Jordan Walker out with a one match suspension. Otherwise Rovers were unchanged from Saturday's match against Poole Town. Ben Lacey and Adam Flint were sidelined joining long term injured Dan Cleverley, Tom Seary and Connor Clifford.

Paulton started well although full back Stuart Tovey received a yellow card for a mistimed tackle as early as the third minute. An accurate fifty yard cross field pass to Brandon Barnes defended by 'The Canaries' captain Alasan Ann and striker Scott Wilson won a corner taken by Barnes but confidently held by Bermudan international keeper Tahj Bell.

Winger Charlie Smith sent over a cross which was headed over his own bar by debutant Anson. Then the lively Jonny McNamara cut in from the left and shot narrowly wide of Kyle Phillips goal.

Rovers were producing some lovely link up play involving Knowles, Barnes, Jon Davies and Mike Bryant spoilt by miss placed passes.

Then on 23 minutes Hitchen nearly opened their account. A free kick on the left by Smith was headed by Matt Lench against the underside of the bar and amidst confusion Phillips gathered the ball to clear the danger.

Six minutes later Tovey and McNamara clashed in a tackle, but the Town player hit out at Dean Evans and after the referee consulted his assistant the visitors were down to ten men after he was shown a red card.

Rovers attacked and Bryant found Davies down the right and his cross skimmed the head of Wilson and went wide. Then Davies hit cross field ball to Barnes who shot narrowly wide.

For the second half Ben Walster replaced Ann who had a knock and Paulton came out looking a much more determined side.

Davies was causing havoc on both wings and on 52 minutes he sprinted down the right byline and cross for Evans to firmly put Rovers in front.

Five minutes later it was 2-0. It was Wilson's turn to break down the wing lay the ball to Davies into Barnes then back to Bryant to score from close range.

The scorer was replaced by Darren Jefferies returning to the club after playing in the Swedish League and what a difference he showed.

On 63 minutes Wilson found Davies who turned too quickly and his effort sailed into the night air to be held by Bell immediately after that Wilson passed to Jefferies who neatly back heeled back to Wilson, who from fifteen yards tried to curl the ball around and past Bell only to see his effort inches wide of the post.

Hitchen were not out the game and with fifteen minutes left, the physical centre forward Brett Donnelly, who had been well marshaled till then by Rovers central defenders Ash Williams and captain Scott Brice, had a chance with his drive well held by Phillips.

Man of the match Davies was substituted by Elliott Gibbons and Barnes by Tyson Pollard and the two teenager linked up well to gain Paulton's third goal with four minutes left Gibbons won a tackle on the right split the defence with his pass to Jefferies who ran at defender's before laying the ball back to Gibbons to score passed the helpless Bell.

With a late rally Lewis Rolfe and Sam Barker both tested Phillips who easily held the ball and Barker hit a free kick high over the bar.

A good three points with spirited second hand performance.

Paulton Rovers - Kyle Phillips, Stuart Tovey, Shayne Anson, Ashley Williams, Scott Brice (C), Brandon Barnes (sub Tyson Pollard 82 minutes), Ollie Knowles, Mike Bryant (Darren Jefferies 61), Scott Wilson, Jon Davies (Elliott Gibbons 76), Dean Evans.

Subs not used - Harry Paice, Josh Jeffries

Man of the match Jon Davies