PAULTON ROVERS 7 WIMBORNE TOWN 0

Rovers’ fans were no doubt hoping for a reaction from their team to last week’s disappointing FA Cup exit but even the most optimistic of them can hardly have expected to see such a dominating performance that saw them post a record score since their elevation to the Southern League.

Early on Jamie Taylor had two efforts saved by visiting keeper, Jason Harvell and Ben Lacey sent a shot across goal and just wide of the far post. Adam Mahdi, making his first start in a Rovers’ shirt also went close with a shot that just cleared the bar.

The home side were ahead after 18 minutes following a neat passing move down the left Ben Lacey outpaced two Town defenders before rounding Harvell and sliding the ball into the net.

The visitors managed their first effort on goal on 20 minutes but Tom Hunt’s header was easily dealt with by Kyle Phillips in the Rovers’ goal. The second goal came on 26 minutes as Adam Mahdi’s free kick was headed down by Marcus Mapstone for Dan Cleverley to poke the ball home.

Rovers continued to threaten, Cleverley heading over the bar and Taylor just failing to get his head on a Lacey cross. However Rovers added a third 5 minutes before the break as Lacey’s cross from the right was deflected over Harvell and went in off the far post.

Rovers began the second half where they left off, completely in command and Mahdi forced Harvell into a fine save pushing the ball out for a corner which led, inevitably to the fourth goal on 55 minutes. Rovers over hit the corner from the right but Lacey chased after the ball, advanced, before playing the ball into Marcus Mapstone for an easy finish.

Rovers 5th came just a minute later as Josh Jeffries fired home after Lacey went past two defenders before crossing from the right and the sixth came in the 59th minute as Lacey’s shot was blocked but the ball broke to Scott Brice who fired home from the edge of the area.

In fairness to Wimborne although they came with a depleted side and were under the cosh right from the start they never gave up and Nathan Lynch forced a good save from Phillips in the 73rd minute. Rovers’ new signing, David Stone, came off the bench and had a chance but shot straight at Harvell.

The final goal was the best of the lot, Jack Allward collecting the ball from Phillips’ throw out and racing from deep in his own half, playing a one-two with Cleverley before slotting the ball home with 2 minutes left on the clock.

Rovers: Phillips, Price (Tovey 61 mins), Allward, Dunn, Mapstone, Brice, Mahdi (70 mins), Jeffries, Taylor (Stone 58 mins), Cleverley (C), Lacey

Referee: Adam Matthews
Assts: Gerard O’Sullivan / Steve Oakey

Attendance: 134