PAULTON ROVERS 2 v 1 CHIPPENHAM TOWN

(Aside) Jon Davies (Paulton Rovers) receiving his man of the match award from sponsor Neil Ford.

Paulton beat Chippenham Town on a boggy Winterfield Road in this Boxing Day clash. Jon Davies was available for the first time in three weeks and their was a debut for new striker Mitchell Page but Ben Lacey failed a fitness test as Rovers sought to move up the Southern league premier table.

It was Davies who hit a first minute shot held by Chippenham keeper Kent Kauppinen whilst Alex Ferguson responded for the visitors wide of the target.

A run by right back Conor McCormack from deep saw his drive well held by Kyle Phillips. Rovers began to dominate and Page was taking some of the recent strain off Scott Wilson. Wilson linked well with Mike Bryant, Sam Teale, Dean Evans and Davies ending in a header by Brandon Barnes sailing across the front of Kauppinen goal.

Former Paulton player Luke Ballinger speedy runs down the right wing providing a interesting test for his former team mate Teale at left back.

On 16 minutes he created the move finding James Guthrie only to be thwarted by Rovers skipper Scott Brice for a corner. Phillips held soundly under pressure from ex Swindon Town striker Ashan Holgate.

Evans was working hard all over the pitch and Davies and Barnes switching wings were testing 'The Bluebird's' defence.

Twenty six minutes had elapsed when Davies set up Wilson and his cross shot was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Kauppinen. Then right back Shayne Anson low shot was parried by the visiting keeper with Wilson almost getting on the rebound.

Both sides attempted to play passing football on the difficult surface as the rain poured down.

On 47 minutes Barnes curled a superb volley only for Kauppinen to make a great save.

A minute later and Paulton took the lead. Davies jinked down the left, cut inside and squeezed the ball in the net past Kauppinen's near post..

Barnes had a chance a minute earlier when his curling shot was superbly saved by Kent Kauppinen.

Ths saw a period of sustained Paulton pressure and on 57 minutes it was 2-0. Barnes was found by Wilson and had a his feet unceremoniously taken from under him by Matt Coupe and Wilson converted the resultant penalty.

'The Bluebird's' pulled one back two minutes later. A neat move involving Holgate whose cross found Ferguson, who laid the ball back to Michael Pook to shoot past Phillips.

Now it was the visitors in the ascendancy and former Bath City player Lee Phillips on as substitute had a goal disallowed on 72 minutes the tested his namesake 2 minutes later.

Wilson should have made it three racing in from the narrowly missed the far post. Then Kauppinen three the ball straight to Wilson who from thirty yards out chipped towards an open goal only to go narrowly wide.

Things heated up with 12 minutes left as Paulton born Iain Harvey mistimed a tackle on Davies adjudged overly aggressive by referee Ben Cobb and shown a red card.

Barnes brought yet another great save from the Chippenham stopper and in the final minute man of the match Davies hit the foot of the post as Rovers ran out worthy winners.

(A photo of Jon davies receiving his man of the match award from sponsor Neil Ford will follow)

Man of the match - Jon Davies (Paulton Rovers)