PAULTON ROVERS 2 TAUNTON TOWN 0

Rovers deservedly recorded their third straight win in the league to move back into 4th place in the table and it was once again built upon another strong defensive performance.

The home side began very well with Josh Jeffries sending a volley wide, Ben Lacey also failing to hit the target with a header before on 19 minutes a poor defensive clearance allowed Jeffries to feed the ball through to Jamie Taylor whose shot was blocked by the legs of the advancing Taunton keeper, Chris Astley. The visitors first threat came 4 minutes later with a quick break down the right, which eventually saw Phil Veal’s cross flash across goal and somehow elude everyone. Rovers responded and from a Jeffries cross, Marcus Mapstone, set up Taylor for a curling shot that just went past the post before on 26 minutes the deadlock was finally broken.

The goal came from a ball forward which Taylor headed on to Lacey whose run and cross set up Taylor and although a defender got in a good block the ball fell to Jeffries who finished from close range.

It was all Rovers at this stage and skipper, Dan Cleverley, sent a volley straight at Astley and then on 32 minutes Taylor raced clear and Astley appeared to handle the ball outside of his area but nothing was given by the officials. Steve Bridges then sent a corner to the near post where, Nick Dunn, headed on and twice Riovers had shots blocked by desperate defending. However it was the visitors who finished the first half strongly as Tim Legg sent a volley wide, Andy Butler headed over from a corner and Raith Plant sent in a swerving shot that almost embarrassed home keeper, Kyle Phillips.

Rovers should have doubled their lead 4 minutes after the interval as a Town corner from the left was headed clear by Mapstone and Jeffries broke before releasing Lacey and with only Astley to beat he sent his shot high over the bar. The visitors cause was not helped with the harsh dismissal of Legg on the hour for what was deemed a second bookable offence. However despite Astley twice having to make saves from Craig Loxton and substitute, James Billing sending a chip wide, Taunton showed they were far from finished when Jamie Short flashed a header just wide.

It came as some relief then for the home side when on 80 minutes another good move down the right saw Lacey’s cross from the right neatly tucked home by Loxton.
Rovers should have added a third with 9 minutes remaining as Phillips sent a long clearance downfield which saw Billing clear, but his lob over the advancing Astley, landed on the top of the bar and bounced over. There was still time for the referee to even up the numbers as Mapstone also seemed unlucky to pick up his second yellow card of the game but Rovers held on comfortably to claim the points.

Rovers: Phillips, Tovey, Bridges, Dunn, Mapstone, Price, Jeffries (Osman 87 mins), Loxton, Taylor (Billing 69 mins), Cleverley (C), Lacey.
Subs not used: Gay, Harvey.

Star Man: Stuart Tovey (Rovers)
Referee: Daniel Jacecko
Assts: Mark Niermirski / John Bishop

Attendance: 165