PAULTON ROVERS 1 ABINGDON UNITED 1

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Rovers dropped two more vital points in their quest for a play-off place as the visitors grabbed an equaliser four minutes from the end.

The game was an ill tempered, scrappy affair with neither side creating many scoring chances worthy of the name. As on Tuesday Rovers began well enough with Nick Dunn testing United keeper, James Foster, with a shot in the 1st minute and Ben Lacey latching onto a great ball from Marcus Mapstone but his cross from the right eluded everyone. The closest either side came to scoring in a disappointing first half was when Adam Mahdi was brought down in the 5th minute to earn the visitors the first of their 7 bookings! Craig Loxton’s 25 yard free kick was superbly touched over the bar by Foster. Rovers had an appeal for a penalty turned down when a shot from skipper, Dan Cleverley, appeared to hit an Abbingdon defender’s hand but nothing was given.

Gradually the visitors came into the game and their skipper, Ricky Allaway failed to connect properly with a volley in the 20th minute and Mapstone made a great block to deny Sam Packer before making a great tackle to prevent Stuart Young getting in a shot. Carl Evans failed to hit the target with a header after Rovers failed to clear a corner and just before the interval Matthew Biddle got on the end of a cross from Michael Buck but could only shoot straight at home keeper, Kyle Phillips.

The home side again started the second half well as Loxton set up Lacey with a great pass but Foster saved well from a narrow angle and defender Ollie Price could only direct his header straight at the United keeper from a Ben Osman free kick. The visitors did have the ball in the net on 62 minute as Biddle’s pass found Sam Collier who slotted home but the assistant flagged, indicating he had used a hand to control the ball. Rovers had a further let off 2 minutes later as Aaron Parfitt’s cross, come shot, from wide on the right hit the post.

However it was the hosts who went ahead in the 67th minute with a good passing move down the left which ended with Mahdi firing home past Foster from a narrow angle.

It seemed to inspire Rovers and Foster made two more vital saves to deny first Lacey, after good work from Mahdi and Loxton and then from Loxton himself.

However Rovers were made to pay for their inability to add a second goal as 4 minutes from time, a move down the left saw Young’s cross hit the outstretched hand of Price on the slide and Collier duly dispatched the inevitable penalty kick.

Rovers spurned a chance to grab all three points in the final minute when Lacey produced an excellent cross from the right but substitute, James Billing, at the near post, sent his header wide of the target.

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Tovey, Steve Bridges, Nick Dunn (Josh Jeffries 67 mins). Marcus Mapstone, Ollie Price, Adam Mahdi, Craig Loxton, Ben Osman (James Billing 67 mins), Dan Cleverley (C), Ben Lacey.
Subs not used: Lee Bryant, Scott Brice, Jon Harvey.

Star Man: Marcus Mapstone (Rovers)
Referee: Stephen Finch
Assts: Derek Pratt / Jason Gordon

Attendance: 107

Match photos from Haydn Jones added below.