PAULTON ROVERS 2 WINCHESTER CITY 1

Rovers extended their unbeaten run to 7 matches and in so doing leapfrogged their visitors in the table but were forced to come from behind.

The home side began well as in the 3rd minute James Billing did well to win the ball in midfield and find Nick McCootie, whose excellent cross field ball picked out Brandon Barnes, who twisted and turned before sending in a shot that City keeper, Rory Anderson, did well to save. Gradually the visitors began to settle and Rovers were indebted to skipper, Dan Cleverley, for cutting out a dangerous cross from the right by Toby McCauley but it was still somewhat against the run of play when City took a 14th minute lead.

The architect was Winchester player manager, James Taylor, whose pass into the box picked out Ben Penfold who cut inside before firing home just inside the near post.

Rovers responded with a break down the right that saw Billing release Barnes, but his excellent cross to McCootie was claimed by Anderson. The home side felt they should have had a penalty in the 24th minute when a Ben Lacey cross from the right saw Billing go down under the challenge of two defenders when it looked he would get his head to the ball, but play was waived on.

However there was no doubting the award of a penalty six minutes later when Billing’s pass sent McCootie chasing a through ball and the Rovers’ striker got there just before Anderson, whose clumsy challenge was adjudged to be just inside the area. Billing beat the keeper low to his left with an excellent spot kick.

McCootie’s pace and power caused the visitors’ defence trouble all afternoon and on 38 minutes he latched on to a Cleverley pass and sent over a great cross from the right, which City full back, Adam Tamasso, was forced to head out for a corner. Then right on the stroke of half time McCootie went on a great run again down the right and crossed for Barnes to stab the ball home only for the goal to be ruled out as the assistant flagged for the ball having just gone out of play.

The home side dominated the early exchanges in the second half with Stuart Pearson heading a Craig Loxton pass just wide and Billing just failing to get a meaningful touch on a Barnes cross at the near post. However City were not to be underestimated and when Adam Roberts was brought down 20 yards out in a central position McCauley sent in a curling free kick that home keeper, Kyle Phillips, did well to save. Barnes then twice went close for Rovers first with a header from a Stuart Tovey cross that Anderson caught comfortably and then with a curling left footed shot that just cleared the bar. At the other end Roberts produced a great run and shot that Phillips did well to save low to his left.

Rovers should have scored in the 67th minute following a great move down the left that saw Barnes pick out Loxton in the box and his cross was met at the near post by McCootie who shot just wide.

However City’s reprieve was short lived as 3 minutes later Rovers were in front as McCootie raced on the left to the byline and pulled back a cross that Billing was on hand to fire home.

Rovers almost made the game safe in the 76th minute with a move down the right that saw Tovey’s cross flight towards Barnes on the far post but Tomasso just got a touch to deflect it for a corner.

The game petered out somewhat with the home side comfortably holding on to claim a deserved victory and 3 more vital points.

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Tovey, Charlie Rich (Jack Allward 56 mins), Stuart Pearson, Scott Brice, Brandon Barnes (Josh Jeffries 89 mins), Craig Loxton, Ben Lacey, James Billing, Dan Cleverley (C), Nick McCootie (Brad Norris 90 mins)

Referee: Robert Dabbs

Assts: James Durkin / Martin Underhay

Attendance: 104