PAULTON ROVERS 1 v 1 WEYMOUTH

(Above) Sponsor Malcolm Powney of Powney and Ford presenting Paulton Rovers man of the match centre half Alex Grimshaw with his award.

What a turnaround as Paulton deservedly took a point from promotion chasing Weymouth in a pulsating game played in the main at a very high tempo.

Indeed all the early threat came from Rovers led by captain Darren Mullings and winger Leon Jeanne who tested Weymouth's
player-manager and keeper Jason Matthews who played for the home side many years ago before embarking on a professional career in the Football League.

'The Terra's response was a dangerous cross from left back Jake Wannell and strikes by Stewart Yetton and former Rovers player Dean Evans both easily held by home keeper Ben John.

Jeanne was causing a constant threat down the left winger with the visitors having to put two and sometimes three players marking him to try and stop his runs.

Nuno Felix who was playing left back was prominent in setting up numerous Paulton attacks with centre forward Tom Knighton operating as a lone striker, Mullings and lively right winger Sol Wheatley were offering support at every opportunity.

On 26 minutes Felix sent over a long high ball and Mullings header was not far off target, then Knighton put Matthews under pressure.

As play swung end to end Knighton play Wheatley through but he blasted high and wide and after another move involving the same players Mullings headed over.

Weymouth's lively wide men Adam Kelley and Chris Shepherd were now coming into their own and Shepherd and Wannell both had shot block by Rovers central pairing of Alex Grimshaw and Josh Ford.

Shepherd cut in from the right and tried a curling shot aimed for the far post which Grimshaw again thwarted.

As half time approached a free kick by Mark Moleseley fired goal wards and then he sent a looping header narrowly wide from Kelly's cross. Rover final effort was from Wheatley who sped down the right wing and shot over the crossbar.

Weymouth had early second half chances as first Kelly's cross again found Moleseley's head with the ball being clutched by John.

Evans was finding a lot of space in midfield he found Calvin Brooks who set up Shepherd which the resolute Paulton defence could only clear to Kelly and his cross was missed by the usually prolific Yetton.

Rovers youngster Kelvin Douglas making his first full start in the first team bore down on goal only for the resourceful Evans to tackle back and snub the danger,

The breakthrough came after 68 minutes Grimshaw knocked the ball forward for Mullings to nod on to Knighton who brought the ball under controlled slipped it to Ford charging forward and the defender drove the ball passed Matthews with the help of a healthy deflection.

Weymouth immediately brought on former Chelsea trainee Pat Baldwin who went on to make over 300 Football League appearances latterly for Exeter City. His first move after 72 minutes was to attack down the left wing hit a low drive across goal which Rovers failed to defend and that man Evans was on hand to thump the ball home from short range.

Paulton were now pegged back by considerable Terra's pressure with stalwart defend from the back four of Steve Williams, Ford, Grimshaw and Felix.

Legs were tiring on both sides as the pitch became increasing heavy and both sides made substitutions to seek out the elusive winner. As a result recent additions to Rovers squad Lamar Powell and Joe Chandler both acquitted themselves as Tony Ricketts men gained that deserved point.

Man of the match Dean Evans (Weymouth)

Paulton Rovers man of the match Alex Grimshaw

Entertainment Value 4 out of 5