PAULTON ROVERS 3 YATE TOWN 2

This win took Rovers into second place and left winless Yate Town one spot above the relegation place, but those statistics and the score line do not reflect the match, as with a little more luck and better finishing this was a game the visitors could and should have won.

Rovers made the perfect start as in the 2nd minute Adam Mahdi’s right wing corner was headed back to him and his excellent cross was headed down for Jamie Taylor to volley home from close range.

It looked as though the home side would extend their lead as Taylor and skipper, Dan Cleverley had chances but failed to hit the target but gradually the visitors got into the game and in the 18th minute were unlucky not to have scored the equaliser. A neat passing move ended with new signing, Matt Groves, firing in a 20 yard shot that came back off the post and the follow up effort from Joe McClennan was superbly touched over the bar by Rovers’ keeper, Kyle Phillips. From the resulting corner Phillips was again called into action getting down quickly to claim a header from Tristan Ferguson. Yate were in control although just after the hour the hosts managed a break as Taylor played in Cleverley but again his effort was off target.

The first half may have ended quietly but the second sprang to life in the opening minute as Rovers doubled their lead with an excellent goal. Ben Lacey went on a fine run before setting up Craig Loxton for a cross that Taylor headed on to Mahdi beyond the far post and his well struck volley back across the goal found the bottom corner of the net.

Ferguson tested Phillips again a minute later with a shot on the turn but the game looked to be over in the 52nd minute when the home side added a third when a good passing move down the right saw Lacey cut inside before firing home from the edge of the box.

However the visitors showed tremendous spirit and endeavour and were rewarded with a goal in the 66th minute as substitute, Mark Badman’s cross from the right saw skipper Edd Vahid dive and send in a header that Phillips got to but couldn’t keep out of the net.

The visitors then pulled another back in bizarre fashion in the 74th minute as Robin Nicholl’s inswinging corner from the left eluded everyone and curled into the far corner of the net.

Rovers responded and substitute, Steve Bridges, sent over a cross from the left that deceived the Yate keeper, Josh Dempsey, striking the bar and Mahdi sent a free kick into the side netting but it was Yate who finished much the stronger. Vahid sent a header just over the bar and former Rovers’ loanee, Neikell Plummer, came off the bench and thought he’d grabbed a point for his side in the 86th minute but his goal was ruled out for offside. Phillips then produced another great save to deny former team mate Plummer but the Yate striker was guilty of missing an easy chance in the 89th minute as he headed Grove’s cross wide at the far post with the goal at his mercy.

Rovers somehow survived the 5 added minutes of extra time and were mightily relieved to hear the final minute. For the neutral this was an excellent game of football but neither manager will be entirely happy with their team’s performance.

Rovers: Phillips, Tovey, Gwinnett, Dunn, Mapstone, Brice, Mahdi (Osman 81 mins), Loxton, Taylor (Bridges 74 mins), Cleverley (C), Lacey.
Subs not used: Price, Bradley, Drewitt.

Referee: Matthew Rushton
Assts: Kevin Barnett / Jonathan Davies
Attendance: 188