PAULTON ROVERS 4 v 3 BARNSTAPLE TOWN

Picture of man of the match Ryan Radford receiving his award from Bob Ewans Manager of match sponsors King Lifting of Avonmouth.

Paulton edged a seven goal thriller overcoming
Barnstaple Town in the heavy rain.

Elliot Gibbons had a great chase to put Rovers ahead in the fourth minute but adjudged to have simulated in the area.

Andrew Hannah in the home goal was twice alert to smother chances from Ryan Turner and Liam Gregory. However 'Barum' took the lead on 20 minutes as a loose ball from Turner fell to Kyle Paine to drive home.

Sol Wheatley and Matt Benham sent Ryan Radford through but his shot was underhit. On the half hour Ryan Shaw made a great tackle to prevent Turner.

Rovers levelled on 39 minutes. Jordan Ricketts saw his shot turned for a corner by Town keeper Steve Oliver. He took the corner on the left and Radford firmly headed home.

A minute later and Paulton were ahead as Matt Long set up Radford and his cross was turned into the net by Gibbons.

Wheatley made it 3-1 on 47 minutes as sub Mario Mateus won the ball and Wheatley ran fully forty yards to beat Oliver.

Barnstaple made a sound response adding a second after 58 minutes with Turner heading home from a free kick and then seven minutes later equalised as Gregory found Niall Heaney and his cross was stroked home by James Blake. Shortly afterwards Jack Jenkins hit Hannah's post.

Paulton battled and from Ricketts corner the ball cannoned of Oliver and was turned home by Radford with the assistant referee signalling the ball had crossed the goal line.

Hannah was on hand to snuff out Blake to see Rovers home.