PAULTON ROVERS 0 BISHOPS CLEEVE 2

Rovers suffered their first defeat of 2012 as the visitors completed a league double.

It all looked so good for the hosts in the opening period as James Billing forced a save from Bishops Cleeve keeper, James Nortei and then had a shot deflect just wide of the post in the opening 5 minutes. Just a minute later and former Rovers’ player, Ashley Caldwell, had to head an in-swinging corner from Craig Loxton off the line. The visitors’ first chance came a minute later after another Rovers chance went begging as Nortei blocked a Ben Lacey effort and a quick break saw the ball played forward to Michael Tambling but he scuffed his shot. The home side then had appeals for a penalty turned down as a defender appeared to handle Loxton’s free kick. Nortei then produced a great save to deny Billing, who beat the visitors’ off side trap to collect a Josh Jeffries pass, but the keeper got down low to his right to make the stop. Nortei was in action again on 20 minutes pushing away a shot from Jeffries after good work from Lacey.

Against the run of play Bishops Cleeve went ahead on 24 minutes with an excellent move down the left. Tambling did well to hold the ball up in the left corner before laying it back to player manager, Alex Sykes, whose cross, whipped in from his left foot, was headed home by Lee Smith.

The goal seemed to deflate the home side and their cause was not helped when Scott Brice was forced to leave the field with a knee injury. Loxton and skipper, Dan Cleverley, had shots blocked and Jack Allward, chasing a seeming lost cause, went close but half time came with the visitors comfortably holding the advantage.

Smith almost added his second a minute after the restart heading Sam Avery’s free kick just wide and then 2 minutes later he was off target again, this time with another header from a Sykes free kick. Billing then set up Stuart Tovey for a cross from the right but Jeffries’ header was blocked before on 55 minutes Rovers were awarded a free kick 20 yards out when Loxton was brought down

The free kick hit the defensive wall and the visitors broke quickly and found themselves 2 on 2 as Tambling played the ball through to Carl Brown who went past home keeper, Kyle Phillips, who brought him down. The referee had little option other to produce a red card and when the penalty was finally taken on 58 minutes Tambling sent stand in keeper, Billing, the wrong way to double the lead.

Rovers were still a threat as Loxton latched onto a Lacey cross on 71 minutes but again Nortei made an excellent save and the keeper was in action again 4 minutes later pushing away a well struck effort from substitute, Adam Mahdi. The visitors looked comfortable in the closing minutes and had the final word as Billing produced a good stop from substitute, Lee Davis.

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Tovey, Jack Allward (Steve Bridges 63 mins), Nick Dunn, Marcus Mapstone (Ollie Price 30 mins), Josh Jeffries (Adam Mahdi 54 mins), Craig Loxton, James Billing, Dan Cleverley (C), Lacey.
Subs not used: Ben Osman, Jon Harvey.

Rovers' Star man: Dan Cleverley.

Referee: Lewis Price
Assts: Roger Goodwin / Julian Hooper.

Attendance: 120