NORTH LEIGH 0 PAULTON ROVERS 0

The sparse crowd at Eynsham Park were fortunate to have witnessed a far more entertaining and exciting match than the score line would suggest. Had it not been for two goalkeepers in top form and a number of desperate block challenges the final score would have looked very different.

Rovers began the game well and the home keeper, Sam Worrell, was tested in the 4th minute getting down well to save from Nick McCootie who shot from a narrow angle after good work from Craig Loxton. Just a minute later and a Charlie Rich free kick was collected in the box by McCootie who found James Billing and his pass to Scott Brice looked to have set up an early goal but for a superb block tackle from home skipper, Stuart Hole. As things turned out the closest either side came to scoring came in Rovers’ next attack as Rich’s right wing corner was cleared to Loxton who played the ball back out wide to Rich and his cross was headed out to Josh Jeffries on the edge of the box and his right foot volley was touched onto the bar and over by a diving Worrell.

The home side’s first threat came on 11 minutes but Hole’s volley was well blocked by Stuart Pearson and then a minute later a long ball forward from Zak Westlake saw Ryan Brooks race clear only to shoot into the side netting. Brooks almost redeemed himself 2 minutes later as having had an initial effort blocked, he fired in a shot that Rovers’ keeper, Kyle Phillips did well to get down to and push away with his right hand. At the other end Brice at the far post was just off target with a header from a Loxton free kick and Ben Lacey fired a shot across Worrell and wide of the far post. Both sides continued to create half chances and it was Jeffries again who was denied a goal on 36 minutes by another fine save from Worrell as he turned away a shot from the edge of the area.

The second half saw further chances created and missed as almost from the restart Brooks released Westlake down the North Leigh right and his cross found Michael Hopkins coming in from the left only to volley over the bar. Pearson then had a header wide from a Loxton free kick after McCootie had been fouled. The home side were left frustrated in the 53rd minute as Andy Caton’s cross from the left picked out Brooks who looked certain to score but Phillips not only saved but recovered to block John Mills’ follow up shot with his feet.

Rovers responded and had appeals for a penalty turned down when McCootie went down in the box and Jeffries was unlucky to see a well struck shot take a deflection. In the 68th minute Rovers produced an excellent passing move down the left, which saw Lacey pick out McCootie in the box and he set up Loxton for a shot that was deflected just wide. From the resultant corner Brice headed straight at Worrell allowing North Leigh to break quickly and a cross from the left saw the ball bobble about in the box until it fell to Brooks less than 6 yards out but Phillips again showed great reactions to make a save.

The game continued to fluctuate from end to end as Rich forced a save from Worrell, Lacey went close with a low drive and Brooks fired across Phillips and wide of the far post. Despite both sides pressing right to the end for that all important goal the game drew to a close with a point each a fair reward for their efforts.

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Pearson, Charlie Rich, Marcus Mapstone, Scott Brice, Josh Jeffries, Craig Loxton, Ben Lacey, James Billing, Dan Cleverley (C), Nick McCootie (Ben Osman 76 mins).
Subs not used: Mark Badman, Stuart Tovey, Steve Bridges.

Referee: John Scott

Assts: Paul O’Hare / Andrew Stevens

Attendance: 67