PAULTON ROVERS 3 MANGOTSFIELD UNITED 2

Rovers bounced back from two successive defeats with a thrilling victory on Boxing Day despite being twice behind in the match.

The visitors made the perfect start, as in the first minute a defensive clearance saw Mitchell Page outpace the Rovers' defence and chest the ball past the advancing keeper, Kyle Phillips, who was well outside his area and slot the ball into an empty net.

The game was being played at a tremendous pace as befits a local derby and Adam Mahdi twice fired wide for Rovers with a further Craig Loxton shot being superbly blocked by a desperate challenge from a United defender.

However it was no surprise when Rovers then equalised with a spectacular 25 yard strike from Mahdi in the 19th minute which flew into the top corner of the net with visiting keeper, Chris Astley, well beaten.

However United restored their lead in the 24th minute as skipper, Geraint Bater played a clever back heel through the home defence and Harley Purnell went clear, took the ball past Phillips and then went down under the keeper's challenge. After consulting his assistant, the referee decided Purnell's touch had taken the ball away from goal and as such only punished the Rovers' keeper with a yellow card. Neil Arndale scored easily from the resulting spot kick sending Phillips the wrong way.

Rovers' skipper, Dan Cleverley went close with a near post header from a Mahdi corner on the half hour and Mahdi then sent a 30 yard free kick straight at Astley. The final chance of a fiercely contested first half fell to Page but Phillips got down at the foot of his near post to push the ball away.

The second half opened with chances at both ends as Nick Dunn failed to hit the target and defender, Ollie Price had a header from a corner scrambled clear for Rovers, whilst at the other end Gary Colborne sent a header straight at Phillips but the keeper had more trouble scrambling away a Bater free kick that eluded the defensive wall. Astley then produced a fine save to deny Lacey but the keeper was eventually beaten in the 59th minute.

Rovers took a left wing corner quickly and it was Cleverley who produced Rovers' second equaliser with a powerful header from a Craig Loxton cross.

Rovers were now enjoying their best spell of the match as Cleverley twice went close and Lee Marshall got in a great diving block tackle to deny Mahdi. The visitors weathered the storm and Marcus Duharty missed a great chance to restore United's lead for a third timein the 77th minute but he failed to hit the target after great work from substitute, Karim Rendall. Page then headed straight at Phillips whilst Arndale's cross from wide on the right went beyond the far post and Rendall at full stretch sent his volley back across goal and wide of the far post.

However it was Rovers' substitute, James Billing, who made the all important breakthrough in the 86th minute, going past two defenders before beating Astley low to his left with a shot from the edge of the box.

United tried to respond but their only real effort came from ex Rovers' player and substitute, San Seavill, but his well struck shot went wide of the far post. In the end Rovers did just enough to earn a valuable 3 points which saw them move up into third place in the table.

Rovers: Phillips, Tovey, Allward, Dunn, Price, Brice, Mahdi (Billing 80 mins), Loxton, Jefffries (Bridges 93 mins), Cleverley (C), Lacey.
Subs not used: Taylor, Gay, Harvey.

Rovers' Star Man: Scott Brice.

Referee: Anthony Whittaker
Assts: Simon Ireland / Lee Cunningham
Attendance: 277