MERTHYR TOWN 0 PAULTON ROVERS 1

Rovers turned the form book on its head as they claimed their first away win of the season at previously unbeaten, Merthyr Town.

In truth the home side had much the better of the first half as Nathan Davies sent a long range effort just wide and Ryan Prosser shot just over the bar in the opening exchanges. However it was Rovers who came closest to breaking the deadlock early as James Billing won a race for the ball with Town keeper, Giles Cutlan, but the header didn’t have quite enough power on it and central defender, Gary Colbourne was able to clear the ball off the line. Rovers were once again indebted to Kyle Phillips as he produced a fine save on 16 minutes from a header by Jamie Rewbury after Kris Leek’s long throw from the right had been flicked on at the near post.

Rovers hard pressed defence was forced to reorganise when, on 25 minutes, Marcus Mapstone was forced to leave with a shin injury and moments later Phillips did well to get down and claim a deflected shot from Leek. With 10 minutes of the half remaining Town were relieved to see the referee only brandish a yellow card for a bad challenge from Leek on Charlie Rich. After withstanding considering pressure in the later stages it was Rovers who almost went into the interval in the lead as Brice got in a header from a Rich corner but Cutlan saved comfortably.

The second half was more even but both defences continued to dominate although on 54 minutes an excellent passing move down the left ended with Billing being brought down 20 yards out in a central position only for Ben Osman to send the free kick high over the bar. Rovers then had an escape on 58 minutes as having just made a save from a narrow angle from Gary Shephard, Phillips raced from his line to clear a through ball only to see it land at the feet of Ian Traylor but his 25 yard shot was cleared off the line by Brice. Both sides had half chances, the best for Rovers coming on 67 minutes after a great run from Ben Lacey set up a shooting chance for Craig Loxton but the ball bobbled (a problem both sides faced all evening) and he completely miss hit his shot.

As the game wore on the Town plan seemed to shift from quick, neat passing and using their undoubted pace to throwing high balls into the Rovers’ box where Brice and fellow defender Stuart Pearson were outstanding. However Town’s best chance of the night came on 77 minutes when a right wing corner was cleared only for a speculative ball back into the area to be headed on by Shephard to Prosser who sent his right foot volley just past the far post.

It proved a critical miss as with only 5 minutes remaining Lacey did extremely well to go past two defenders and earn a corner on the right, Rich’s left foot sent the ball over Cutlan to the far post where somehow Brice was able to bundle it over the line.

Rovers comfortably held on to claim 3 very valuable points.

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Pearson, Jack Allward, Marcus Mapstone (Josh Jeffries 25 mins), Sott Brice, Charlie Rich, Craig Loxton, Ben Lacey, James Billing, Dan Cleverley (C), Ben Osman.
Subs not used: Nick McCootie, Kris Miller, Stuart Tovey,Steve Bridges.

Referee: Marvyn Amphlett

Assts: Michael Halford / Maris Brugis

Attendance: 259