PAULTON ROVERS 2 ST NEOTS TOWN 5

With both sides desperate for the win the opening was a frantic affair with the ball spending an inordinate amount of time in the air. The visitors looked sharp from the outset but Ross Staley went close for the hosts on 9 minutes but sent his shot just wide after a good run across the box. Then on 16 minutes Ryan Hawkins crossed from the right for the visitors and Alex Grimshaw’s clearing header fell to Tom Meechan but his first time snatched effort went wide.

St Neots took the lead on 20 minutes when Rover's defender, Josh Ford, was adjudged to have brought down Hawkins in the box and his strike partner, Meechan, made no mistake with the penalty.

Both sides had chances but St Neots doubled their lead on 32 minutes when Ford's under hit back pass saw keeper, Ben John's attempted clearance strike Hawkins and rebound into the empty net.

Staley was proving a handful for the visiting defence and 39 produced another fine run only to shoot straight at the keeper.

After the interval the hosts were indebted to full back, Jack Allward, as he headed off the line to deny Lee Clarke a headed goal from a right wing corner.

Rovers looked to be back in the game on 57 minutes when Josh Morgan-Williams collected a ball into the box from Grimshaw, turned and fired home.

However the visitors regained their two goal advantage within a minute as Hawkins' cross from the right wasn't dealt with and Meechan grabbed his second goal.

Then on 73 minutes Ford was caught in possession by the impressive Hawkins who then raced away, rounded John and slotted home.

Substitute, Tom Knighton, reduced the arrears on 82 minutes from the penalty spot after a defender was adjudged to have handled the ball from a Kyle Tooze free kick after Knighton had been upended on the edge of the area.

The final goal came two minutes later when Rovers conceded a needless free kick, wide on the right, which found two St Neots’ players unmarked at the far post and it was Josh Beech who headed home to secure a 5-2 win.

It could have been worse for Rovers had keeper and captain, Ben John, not produced a fine save to deny Hawkins his hat trick from a narrow angle in the final minute.

Rovers: Ben John (C), Alex Grimshaw, Jack Allward, Adrian Harris, Craig Allan,
Josh Ford, Aaron Brown (David O’Hare 70 mins), Ross Staley (Tom Knighton 65 mins), Josh Morgan-Williams, Jordan Ricketts, Kyle Tooze.
Subs not used: Nathan Rudge, Richard Fey.

Man of the match: Ryan Hawkins (St Neots) Rovers’ Star Man: Craig Allan