THATCHAM TOWN 0 PAULTON ROVERS 0

The league table suggested there was little to choose between these two teams and so it proved, although Rovers will be the happier having been forced to play the last 46 minutes of the game with 10 men after the controversial dismissal of skipper, Dan Cleverley.

Overall it was a disappointing game of few chances, the first of which fell to Rovers in the 5th minute as the hosts conceded an needless corner as keeper, Paul Strudley, completely misjudged a back pass. Adam Mahdi’s kick found Cleverley at the near post but his header went wide. Jemel Johson then had a chance for Town as Rovers struggled to clear a free kick, but his shot cleared the bar. The home side suffered a severe set back on 15 minutes when Strudley was forced to leave the field with impaired vision and outfield player, Scott Rees was asked to assume the role of keeper.

Thatcham almost scored on 26 minutes as Rovers gave away a free kick 35 yards out and Tom Melledew’s curling free kick was superbly saved by Kyle Phillips low to his right. Johnson had another chance on 37 minutes but failed to hit the target. It looked as though the visitors had taken the lead 5 minutes from the break as Phillips cleared downfield and Cleverley’s flicked header was headed home by Mahdi only to adjudged offside. Sean Cook then headed wide for the home side and with half time due, Cleverley challenged for the ball in the corner, the assistant flagged and after consultation the referee amazed everyone by producing a straight red card.

In a virtual repeat of the incident in the first half Phillips saved a Melledew free kick and then on 65 minutes it looked as though Town would break the deadlock as Rovers claimed in vain for a free kick on the hard working Jamie Taylor and Town broke allowing Jamie Clark to cut in from the right and send in a shot that came back off the inside of the far post.

Despite being a man down the visitors still posed a real threat and on 72 minutes, substitute, Ben Lacey went past two defenders before setting up Craig Loxton for a shot that curled just wide of the far post. Then 4 minutes later Lacey again ran at the Town defence and was brought down 20 yards out. Loxton’s free kick somehow avoided the Thatcham wall and thumped off the post to be scrambled clear.

Rovers held on to claim a vital point against the odds.

Rovers: Phillips, Tovey, Allward, Dunn, Mapstone, Brice, Mahdi (Lacey70 mins), Loxton. Taylor (Billing 87 mins), Cleverley (C), Jeffries.
Subs not used: Stone, Bridges

Referee: Lee Marshallsay
Assts: Lee Kill / Peter Smith
Attendance: 104