BRIDGWATER TOWN 3 PAULTON ROVERS 1

Rovers’ winning streak came to end when a lack lustre first half performance left them too much to do when they were reduced to 10 men just before the interval.

The home side made the perfect start with a goal in the second minute, central defender, Josh Turner, rising above everyone to head home a long throw in from the left.

Ben Lacey then had a shot well saved by Town keeper, Sam Hutchings, as Rovers forced successive corners and Jamie Taylor fired wide from the edge of the box. Rovers continued to press for an equaliser as again Lacey went close after good work by Nick Dunn and skipper Dan Cleveley before Taylor again forced Hutchings into action. The home side responded and put the Rovers’ defence under pressure as Marcus Mapstone was forced to head a cross from Aaron Cornwall over his own bar. Hutchings then pulled off two further good saves to deny Craig Loxton and then Cleverley.

However Rovers were undone 2 minutes from the break when left back, Craig Mawford was allowed to run from deep and his well struck shot came back off the inside of the far post with Rovers’ keeper, Kyle Phillips, beaten and would have left Dave Pearse an easy finish but Mapstone was adjudged to have brought him down. The referee awarded a penalty and showed the red card to Mapstone – his second in successive games. Cornwall sent Phillips the wrong way from the penalty spot to send Town into a two goal lead at the break.

After Graham Mercieca had gone close for Town immediately after the restart manager, Rovers’ Mark Harrington, made a triple substation and immediately his side looked more threatening as Loxton again found Hutchings in good form. Cleverley then headed over a Steve Bridges corner and despite their numerical disadvantage it was no surprise when the deficit was reduced on 61 minutes.

The provider was Lacey who went past two defenders before setting up Loxton for a shot from just inside the box that finally beat Hutchings low to his right.

Town were now reduced to the odd break and they almost restored their two goal lead within a minute as Phillips produced a fine save to thwart Cornwall. Rovers almost equalised on 75 minutes as a free kick dropped to substitute, Scott Brice, who set up Lacey but his well struck shot was superbly touched over the bar by Hutchings.

It proved to be a pivotal moment in the game as Town effectively made the game safe on 76 minutes as Rovers allowed Cornwall to collect a ball that the visitor’s defence had thought was going out and set up Pearse for a sliding finish.

Phillips twice made good saves to deny first, ex Rovers’ under 18 player, Kye Palmer and then Pearse whilst at the other end the final chance of the game fell to Rovers as a superb cross from Loxton from the left was missed by James Billing at the near post and Stuart Tovey on the slide couldn’t get his shot at the far post on target.

Rovers: Phillips, Tovey, Bridges, Dunn, Mapstone, Price (Brice 54 mins), Jeffries (Allward 54 mins), Loxton, Taylor (Billing 54 mins), Cleverley (C), Lacey.
Sub not used: Oman.

Rovers' Star Man: Ben Lacey

Referee: Antony Cloak
Assts: Savvas Yianni / Alan Somers

Attendance: 171