PAULTON ROVERS 3 TAUNTON TOWN 3

For the third time this season Taunton came from behind to deny Rovers victory in an exciting, but at times physical encounter, at Winterfield Road.

Rovers were definitely below par in the first period yet could easily have been ahead as early as the 4th minute when having seen his own long throw in headed over the bar by a defender, Stuart Pearson, got on the end of the subsequent Charlie Rich corner but failed to hit the target. It was Town then who then had two good chances to break the deadlock as first Khaled Badavi sent a shot across home keeper Kyle Phillips and wide of the post and then skipper, Simon Ingram, volleyed over the bar after a neat header down by Neil Peek.

The home side took a 12th minute lead when the visitor’s defence made a complete mess of clearing their lines and with Rich pressing full back Tom Lang, the ball broke kindly to James Billing whose left foot shot from the edge of the box gave debutant keeper, Sam Hutchings, no chance.

The lead lasted just 5 minutes as Rovers were still complaining against the award of a free kick, which Ingram took quickly and Craig Herrod’s cross from the left was headed home at the far post by Peek.

The visitors were on top now as Peek set up Neil Slateford for a shot inside the box, which he completely miss hit and then Phillips produced an excellent double to save getting down low to Herrod’s first shot and then blocking Peek’s follow up effort with his leg.

The deadlock was broken on 32 minutes as the home defence failed to deal with a long throw in from the right by John Harris and the ball dropped kindly for Ingram to volley home from close range.

It could have got worse for Rovers in the 40th minute but again the visitors, this time in the shape of Badavi, were thwarted by a good save from Phillips while at the other Dan Cleverley released Nick McCootie but his volley went high and wide.

Just when it looked as though the visitors would take a deserved lead into the interval Rovers equalised with a goal of real quality as Pearson’s long throw in from the right broke to Charlie Rich and he set up Ben Lacy for a 25 yard, left foot volley that keeper Hutchings could only stand and admire.

The home side were much better in the second half and Hutchings had to get down low to claim a Lacey shot that took a deflection, Cleverley volleyed over the bar and then in the 54th minute they were unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty as McCootie went down under a clumsy challenge in the box. On the hour Hutchings did well to turn away a Craig Loxton free kick and Billing just failed to get a header on target after a great run and cross from Lacey.

It was no surprise when eventually Rovers took the lead in the 64th minute, although the award of a free kick wide on the Rovers’ left for a foul on Loxton was hotly disputed by the visitors. Loxton took the kick right footed and Marcus Mapstone at the far post headed home.

Rovers were then guilty of failing to press home their advantage and Town got back into the game as Rob Norrish should have scored when the ball dropped at his feet from a left wing corner but he failed to hit the target and Phillips once again produced an excellent save to push away a 30 yard effort from Peek. On a rare break Rovers went close in the 87th minute as, having held the ball up in the left corner looking to waste time, Loxton cut inside and sent a shot just wide of the far post.

Just a minute later Town grabbed a deserved point as Herrod broke down the left and slipped the ball to Peek who was yet again denied by a fine Phillips save but this time substitute, Jamie Short, was on hand to fire home the rebound.

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Pearson, Jack Allward, Marcus Mapstone, Scott Brice, Charlie Rich (Josh Jeffries 45 mins), Craig Loxton, Ben Lacey, James Billing, Dan Cleverley (C), Nick McCootie (Mark Badman 84 mins).
Subs not used: Kris Miller, Stuart Tovey, Ben Osman.

Referee: Mark Derrien

Assts: Craig Burton / Colin Hopkins

Attendance: 120