SHORTWOOD UNITED 5 PAULTON ROVERS 1

Rovers’ dismal start to their league campaign continued as their first ever visit to the Meadowbank Stadium quickly became one to forget due a very poor second half performance. The remarkable thing was the visitors were much the better side in the opening half and can count themselves unfortunate to go into the break a goal down, but overall there was no disputing the home side deserved the three points.

Rovers began brightly, Ben Osman’s 6th minute cross just failing to reach James Billing on the far post and Craig Loxton’s 8th minute drive was well saved by home keeper, Tom King. With the visitors pressing strongly Loxton sent over a corner from the left which defender, Mark Pritchett, somehow contrived to hack clear over his own bar. Charlie Rich took the resultant corner from the right in the 14th minute and Marcus Mapstone out jumped everyone to head home and give Rovers a deserved lead.

United were spurred into action, Tim Haddock sending in a swerving, long range effort, that Rovers’ keeper, Kyle Phillips, had trouble catching, but it took until the 24th minute for parity to be restored as veteran striker, Kevin Slack, sent over a cross from the right that was turned in by Jake Parrott.

Loxton had a shot saved and another Rich corner caused King a problem but it was the hosts who grabbed the initiative in the 31st minute as a right wing corner was turned in by the seemingly unmarked defender, James Coates.

Rovers could have levelled before half time as Nick McCootie’s pass sent Ben Lacey away down the right but his excellent cross was headed over by Billing. In injury time King produced a fine diving save to push away a fine effort from Osman.

The visitors start to the second half suggested they could still get something from the game as McCootie set up Josh Jeffries for a shot that cleared the bar and Scott Brice picked up a loose ball and found Billing whose volley under pressure cleared the bar. United’s victory owed much to the introduction of substitute, James Singh, who almost scored with his first touch, heading Parrott’s left wing cross just over the bar. At the other end Dan Cleverley had a long range effort easily saved and an acrobatic overhead kick from McCootie caught an unfortunate defender full in the face.

United’s third goal came from a poor pass from McCootie on the edge of their own box but they broke quickly with a ball played wide to Singh who crossed from the right and this was neatly turned in by Parrott.

Rovers responded with the introduction of Kris Miller who forced King into a fine save and then dragged another shot wide. The visitors thought they should have got a penalty in the 71st minute when Lacey went down after a great run but the referee awarded a free kick on the edge of the box which Rich curled just wide of the post.

With Rovers throwing everything forward Rovers were indebted to Mapstone for a goal line clearance in the 73rd minute but with time running out they surrendered any hope of salvaging something from the game with 7 minutes remaining. Phillips opted to take the ball around a United player rather than kick clear and his subsequent pass to Rich gave the defender no time as Singh robbed him and squared the ball for fellow substitute, Jamie Martin to tap home.

Rovers almost pulled one back in the 88th minute as Loxton’s cross from the left was controlled on his chest well by substitute, James Vincent, but his shot was cleared off the line by Coates.

To add insult to injury United grabbed a fifth three minutes into injury time as they again broke quickly and this time it was John Cant who provided the cross from the left to give Martin his second easy tap in of the game.

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Ben Osman, Charlie Rich, Marcus Mapstone, Scott Brice (Steve Bridges 81 mins), Josh Jeffries (Kris Miller 67 mins), Craig Loxton, Ben Lacey, James Billing, Dan Cleverley (C), Nick McCootie (James Vincent 81 mins).
Subs not used: Lee Davidson, Stuart Pearson.

Referee: David Bryant

Assts: Mark Dadds / Jozsef Madaras

Attendance: 104