BIDEFORD 0 v 1 PAULTON ROVERS

(Above) Paulton captain Darren Mullings hits the winner

Paulton deservedly won this Boxing Day 6 pointer with a much improved display against Bideford in North Devon.

Biddy captain Richard Groves saw a early shot deflected for a corner taken by Billy Tucker from which Groves headed wide.

Tucker was guilty of a poor foul as Rovers playing controlled play keeping the ball on the ground against a blustery win.

Paulton skipper Dareen Mullings linked well with Dave O'Hare to find winger Nuno Felix whose cross was punched away by Kyle Moore.

Moore was kept busy as Mullings and Leon Jeanne tested him.

His opposite number 1 Ben John had little to do as another Tucker corner saw Nick Barker head tamely wide.

After 28 minutes Jeanne drove an effort narrowly over the crossbar.

Bideford were troubled by rattacking runs from midfield by Jordan Ricketts and Jeanne and Felix attacking their full backs down the flanks.

John comfortably held a shot from Liam Pryann after bein set up by veteran attacker Kevin Squire who contributed little and well marshalled by Josh Ford and youngster Alex Grimshaw who improves with every game after a shaky start at theis level of football.

Rovers saw some stout defending from full backs Steve Willams and the reliable Jack Allward.

Jeanne and centre forward Tom Knighton both had shots blocked then as half time approached John saved well from Squire's weak header and then from Stephen Reed's floated free kick.

Paulton came out with intent and after 47 minutes Moore dived to turn Jeanne's low drive around the post. Then Grimshaw hit a long bar down the left for Knighton to shoot wide. On 49 minutes Allward's free kick was crossed by Jeanne only for Felix to volley wide.

As Tucker received an inevitable yellow card this time for a foul on Mullings, Jeanne broke down the left and curled a lovely ball wide with Moore beaten.

The break through came after 62 minutes after Ian sampson brought down Jeanne and Allward's free kick on the left from the half way line was met by Knighton's header which Moore could only managed to tip onto the cross bar and Mullings was on hand to turn the ball into the net.

Jeanne then brought another save from Moore and Mullings thought his shot had crossed the line but the linesman ruled that Reed had cleared away.

Biddy then put a last ditch pressure with some resolute defending from the Somerset men as Chris McGrath son of ex Irish internation Paul pushed his bulky frame upfront but got little joy out of Ford.

Groves free kick was clawed away by John as Tucker was lucky to stay on the pitch after another offence jumping at Alllward who received a nasty blow to his head.

Three minutes from time Groves took a quick free kick to an unmarked Sampson down the right who saw his low drive go right across the goal area and safely out on ther left for a Rovers goal kick.

For Paulton manager Tony Ricketts this win nicely sets up Saturday's local derby as Frome Town vist Winterfield Road.

Man of thre match Darren Mullings (Paulton Rovers)