PAULTON ROVERS 2 TIVERTON TOWN 1

Rovers claimed their first points of the new season but were made to endure an anxious finale as their visitors bagged a late goal and threatened to overcome a two goal deficit.

The home side began well with a 5th minute move down the left, which saw strikers Nick McCottie and James Billing combine well before the former saw his excellent cross cut out at the near post. Kris Miller sent over the resultant corner which fell to McCottie at the back post and his volley hit a defender enabling keeper, Chris Wright to make a comfortable save.

However Rovers took the lead a minute later with a great ball down the right from Steve Tovey to Miller who cut inside his marker and set up Billing for a right foot volley from the edge of the box, which went across Wright and into the far bottom corner.

Town almost restored parity a minute later as Michael Nardiello did well to control a ball in the area, turn and send over a low cross that saw Andy Taylor slide in beyond the far post but was unable to get his touch on target. Rovers were looking the more dangerous as McCottie and Craig Loxton had shots just off target before on 21 minutes Wright pulled off an excellent shot to deny Loxton after a great pass from Tovey. Nardiello seemed to be the main threat to the hosts and in the 28th minute, in a repeat of his earlier effort, he sent over a dangerous cross from the left that eluded everyone in the box and then two minutes later he had a header saved by home custodian, Kyle Phillips.

Rovers almost grabbed a second in the 31st minute as Miller’s right wing corner went beyond the far post to Scott Brice who sent his header against the angle of the crossbar and post earning himself a bloody nose in the process, which left him having to leave the field for treatment. As the first half came to a close the visitors looked more threatening as Phillips had to make an excellent save from Lewis Tasker’s 20yard free kick in a central position and then the same player sent over a cross that Taylor headed wide.

After the interval Rovers pressed for a second and a poor defensive header out saw Miller send his shot over the bar and then McCootie beat the advancing Wright to a long through ball but failed in his attempt to round the keeper. It seemed to spur the visitors into action as Nardiello went close with a shot on the turn and Phillips had to save a long range effort from Taylor before a great break saw Nardiello send over a great cross from the right, which Phillips at full stretch managed to punch clear.

Rovers however extended their lead somewhat against the run of play in the 67th minute as Marcus Mapstone picked the ball up in midfield and charged towards the Tivvy area only to be tripped from behind 20 yards out in a central position. Miller’s excellent right foot free kick curled around the defensive wall and beat the diving Wright low to his left.

Video of Kris Miller's free kick http://youtu.be/Gnhv6ICONKQ

It took the visitors a while to recover from this blow but eventually they launched an assault in the final 10 minutes with skipper, Paul Kendall, pushed forward and he sent a header just wide from a Josh Concanen cross and substitute David Steele sent a shot well over the bar after more good work from Concanen.

The visitors eventually got their reward for their pressure in the 86th minute as Owen Howe collected a ball from Concanen on the edge of the box turned and sent in a right footed shot through a crowd of players which deceived Phillips and found the bottom corner of the net.

It was all Tiverton now as they forced three successive corners from the right the last of which saw Alex Faux pick out Kendall, but his fine header was superbly touched over for a corner by Phillips and shortly after and to the relief of a disappointingly small home crowd the referee blew for the end of a thoroughly entertaining contest.

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Tovey, Marcus Mapstone, Dan Cleverley (C), Scott Brice, Josh Jeffries, Craig Loxton, Ben Lacey, James Billing, Nick McCootie (Lee Collier 78 mins), Kris Miller (Sean Seavill 72 mins – Lee Davidson 90mins).
Subs not used: Dave Stone, James Vincent.

Referee: Ben Cobb
Assts: James Durkin / Richard Lawrence

Attendance: 88

The match was recorded by Ian Nockolds with former Paulton Rovers stalwart Simon Wellington summarising on Somer Valley FM 97.5 and highlights will be broadcast from 6-00 p.m. in next Tuesday 28 August live Sports Show.

Click 'Listen Live' to listen on line or tune in to 97.5 FM.

Somer Valley FM presented the Paulton 'Man of the Match' award to Rovers'keeper Kyle Phillips after the game.