PAULTON ROVERS 0 CLEVEDON TOWN 1

Rovers created and failed to take, enough chances to have won several games but a calamitous defensive error 11 minutes before half time gifted the visitors victory.

The opening exchanges were even as for Rovers, Scott Brice saw his header from a Stuart Pearson long throw scrambled clear while at the other end Curtis Jack sent a volley wide after Rovers only partially cleared a free kick. Jack found himself clear on 12 minutes after his keeper, Dylan Castanheira, had claimed another Pearson throw and sent his clearance downfield, but before he could get his shot away, Marcus Mapstone got in a great saving tackle.

The first save of the came two minutes later as Pearson’s cross from the right was only cleared as far as Rovers’ skipper, Dan Cleverley, some 25 yards out but Castanheira saved comfortably. The best chance of the first half to date fell to Rovers on 20 minutes with a superb move that ended with James Billing setting up an opportunity for Ben Osman but Castanheira spread himself and made a great block. Rovers began to dominate as the Clevedon keeper then made another excellent save diving low to his left to turn away a 20 yard shot from Charlie Rich and the same player was well off target a minute later with another shot after good work from Ben Lacey. Osman was also guilty of failing to hit the target moments later as he shot over the bar. At the other end Brice deflected a cross from the right and home keeper, Kyle Phillips, showed great reactions to turn the ball away for a corner. Craig Loxton then failed to hit the target with a great chance after Brice had headed on a Phillips free kick and Osman volleyed over after the keeper had punched clear a Rich corner.

The game was settled in the 39th minute as a long clearance downfield saw Brice, running towards his own goal and Phillips, racing from his line, get in a mess as the defender’s header back beat the keeper and Dave Stone following up was able to slot home from an acute angle.

The goal seemed to rock the home side and the first half ended with little threat to the visitors. However they almost equalised within 3 minutes of the restart as Jack Allward went on a great run and played a one-two with Billing but again Castanheira produced an excellent save. Two minutes later and the visitors broke quickly and Jack was allowed to run unchallenged to the edge of the Rovers’ box before firing in a right foot shot across Phillips, which the keeper did well to touch out for a corner.
Rovers then had two penalty appeals for hand ball turned down and Mapstone sent his header from a Rich corner over the bar. Lacey went a great run, beating two defenders before firing wide and then on 68 minutes a great move saw Allward and Lacey combine to release substitute, Nick McCootie, away but with only the keeper to beat, he too fired wide of the post.

Rovers continued to press but apart from a Billing volley which Castanheira dealt with comfortably the visitors’ defence was hardly troubled and although they can perhaps count themselves fortunate, it was Town who left with all three points.

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Pearson, Jack Allward, Marcus Mapstone, Scott Brice, Charlie Rich (Kris Miller 80 mins), Craig Loxton,Ben Lacey, James Billing, Dan Cleverley (C), Ben Osman (Nick McCootie 66 mins).

Rovers’ Star Man: Marcus Mapstone

Referee: William Bird

Assts: Steven Saunders / Adrian Knight

Attendance: 138