PAULTON ROVERS 2 v 1 BIDEFORD

(Aside) Paulton Rovers man of the match against Bideford as selected by sponsors Sainsbury Supermarket of Midsomer Norton was Ashley Williams seen here receiving his award from football chairman Dave Bissex

Paulton beat Bideford 2-1 in a close encounter.
They got back to winning ways on a sunny Easter Monday afternoon following two recent home performance.

Rovers started with 18 year's old Bristol City loanee Liam Monelle starting as centre forward. He should have opening the scoring after 8 minutes after Mitchell Page won a header and the youngster through with only keeper Steve Oliver to beat tried to lob the ball over him. However the tall stopper collected the aerial lob.

Four minutes later Brad Abrahams thunder a shot at Oliver's goal bringing vicivous appeal for a hand ball from several home players.

After withstanding the early pressure Bideford hit back with Mickey Parcell, Billy Tuycker and the vastly expirenced Kevin Squire all testing the Paulton rear guard.

Abrahams shot narrowly over the bar with a firm volley after Monelle found Jon davies whose cross was headed in Abrahams path by Page.

Phillips had to race out of his goal to haed clear after ian Sampson bore down on him.

Abrahms linked with Ashley Williams who slickly laid the ball to Davies and Monelle was a yard wide with his header.

As Biddy attacked Phillips held first Sampson's shot then one from Squire as Sampson cross the ball on both occassions.

Three minutes before half time Paulton took the lead. Bideford appealled for offside as they cleared for a throw on the left. Sam Teale found Monelle who turned and from a tight angle slipped the bar past the dispairing Oliver.

Immediately on the restart Page nodded to Williams whose rasping drive evaded the goal.

Monelle then sped down the right but his pulled back was behind any of his team mates. Minutes later it was Davies's turn to shoot wide.

Sampson and Tucker responded with off target shots whilst Rovers skipper Scott Brice was keeping the usually dangerous target man Squire very quiet.

On 72 minutes Bideford were contrversially awared a penalty. They won a corner and visiting centre half Danny Tapp appeared to man handle Phillips who responed in kind and after the assistant flagged and spoke to referee Ganfield he pointed to the spot. Captain Richard Groves drove the penalty kick passed Phillips.

This brought a positive response from Rovers as davies and the impressive Wiliams created all sorts of problems. Both Paulton full backs Teale and right back Jordan Walker tried their attacking skills both shooting over the bar.

With three minutes left Teale broke from his own half chipped a delightful ball over a square rerar guard for substitute Clayton Green. The Welshman ran on to beat the advance Oliver and see the ball agonising roll slowly in to the net to make 2-1 for Paulton.

Their was time for Phillips to make a figure tip save from right back Nick Milton's long shot. Squire shot from close range only for Phillips produce a 'Gordon Bank's' replica save turn the goal bound effort superbly over the crossbar.

From the corner Squire headed against the cross bar and Rovers substiute defender Omar Lindsay cleared under pressure.

Paulton Rovers Kyle Phillips, Jordan Walker, Sam Teale, Shayne Anson, Scott Brice (C), Brad Abraham, Danny Wring (sub Clayton Green 59 mins), Ashley Williams, Liam Monelle (Scoot Wilson 75), Jon Davies Omar Lindsay 90), Mitchell Page, ,

Subs not used - Stuart Tovey Zayne Alim

Entertainment value 4 out of 5

Sainbury's Supermarket Midsomer Norton man of the match - Ashley Williams
(Paulton Rovers)

The Sunday side were without a game and are awaiting confirmation of this weekend's opponent.

The under 18's are home to Keynsham Town (Thursday 9 April) and next Thursday home again the local derby against Welton Rovers both kick off at 7-30 p.m.

The first team travel on Saturday to relegation threatened Aresley Town in Bedfordshire. The coach will leave the club at 9-15 a.m.