PAULTON ROVERS 3 DIDCOT TOWN 1

Rovers returned to winning ways after Saturday’s reverse at Bridgwater in a match that turned in the space of ten minutes immediately after the interval.

The first half was competitive enough, but despite the efforts of both sides neither keeper was really tested, although Didcot’s custodian, Dean Santangelo, was in action in the opening minute with an easy catch from a long range, deflected shot from Ben Osman. Ben Lacey then shot wide for Rovers after great work down the left from Jack Allward and James Billing. Town defender, Lee Henderson, got in a fine header to prevent Lacey going clear as the home side make a positive start. Lacey caused more problems on 23 minutes when he received a quick free kick but his cross saw Billing’s sliding effort blocked by a defender. Rovers’ skipper, Dan Cleverley, slipped a neat pass through to Billing but Santangelo was quick of his line to win the race to the ball.

Town’s only real threat of the half came on 28 minutes when a quick break down the left saw the ball crossed to Paul Robinson, whose header was blocked by Scott Brice and in the scramble that followed, Steve Davis, went down in the box, but the referee waived play on. Town then suffered a blow as skipper, Alex Stanley, was forced to leave the field with a leg injury. Rovers went close as first Craig Loxton’s 25 yard free kick was deflected across goal and went just wide of the far post and from the resultant corner Scott Brice headed the ball down, but Marcus Mapstone was just unable to get the vital touch. Loxton then sent a speculative shot, from deep, across the goal and wide of the far post while Robinson fired a free kick straight at Rovers’ under worked keeper, Kyle Phillips as the first period ended in stalemate.

However the second half burst into life, as almost from the kick off Allward went on a great run down the left, cut inside two defenders and sent his shot across Santangelo and into the far, bottom corner of the net.

Osman then shot wide after a corner had been cleared to the edge of the area and Robinson produced a good run and shot that went just wide as Town sought the equaliser. However a quick break from Rovers in the 50th minute produced a second goal to give them some much needed breathing space.

Loxton’s cross from the left saw Billing get in a shot that was blocked, but the ball broke to edge of the area and Cleverley sent his shot wide of Santangelo’s right hand and into the bottom corner of the net.

The game was effectively over in the 56th minute with a great pass down the left touchline from Allward to Lacey who skipped past a defender and his cross to the far post was headed home by Osman.

Rovers spurned a further couple of chances and Robinson sent a long range effort well wide as the game looked to be petering out, until 4 minutes into injury time, Cleverley was harshly adjudged to have handled in the penalty area as Rovers failed to deal with a corner despite several headers out and Tom Mudge made no mistake with the penalty kick.

Rovers: Phillips, Tovey, Allward, Dunn (Jeffries 70 mins), Mapstone, Brice, Osman (Bridges 86 mins), Loxton (Gay 80 mins), Billing, Cleverley (C), Lacey.
Subs not used: Taylor, Price.

Rovers' Star Man: Ben Osman.
Referee: Alan Raggett
Assts: Roger Goodwin / Neville Brimming

Attendance: 129

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