PAULTON ROVERS 0 HUNGERFORD TOWN 2

With both sides having play-off aspirations this always promised to be a tight encounter and so it proved with the opening exchanges being all about commitment and endeavour rather than skill and entertainment.

In fact it was 16 minutes before either side showed any real threat when Alan O’Brien swung in a corner from the right for the visitors, which Mark Draycott at the near post headed onto the roof of the net. Rovers first attempt came 3 minutes later as keeper, Kyle Phillips, cleared downfield and James Billing controlled the ball and set up Nick McCootie for a 20 yard shot straight at Town keeper, Paul Strudley. McCootie then turned provider latching onto a Stuart Tovey header and releasing Craig Loxton but his shot from a narrow angle was easily saved.

The deadlock was broken on 29 minutes with a neat pass inside Tovey and with Phillips leaving his goal but failing to win the race to the ball, O’Brien crossed from the left for Ben Pugh to volley home.

The home side should have been level by the interval as first Scott Brice’s defensive header saw McCootie race clear, but Strudley spread himself well to make the block, then Josh Jeffries volleyed over the bar from a Tovey free kick, McCootie touched a Phillips free kick wide of Studley but also the post and then right on half time Strudley brought down McCootie in the box. However Billing’s penalty was too close to Strudley, diving low to his right and the visitors took a narrow lead into the break.

The second period once again began with both sides having chances as O’Brien’s free kick from the right saw Matt Day volley over the bar while for Rovers, Ben Osman on as a substitute for the injured Ben Lacey at half time, curled a right footed free kick just wide of the post after Loxton had been brought down just outside the box.

The visitors doubled their lead on 66 minutes with a great breakaway goal. Loxton’s attempted ball into the Town box was cut out and played forward to Pugh on the half way line and he held it up well before releasing the industrious, Like Brewer, down the right who made significant ground before crossing to the near post, where Draycott’s touch beat Phillips to find the back of the net.

With 10 minutes left on the clock another Town move saw Draycott go clear only to be flagged for offside. The Town striker kicked the ball away to earn a second yellow and depart the scene. Despite the numerical advantage Rovers only really threatened twice as Strudley produced an excellent save to claw away a Marcus Mapstone touch from McCootie’s header across goal and then in injury time substitute, Joe Vyner, had an overhead kick clear the bar.

Town complete the double over their hosts and remain top of the table, but for Rovers the loss of both Lacey and top scorer, Billing, with injuries and a return of only 2 goals in their last 4 games will be a concern ahead of the visit of Poole Town on Tuesday.

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Tovey, Jack Allward, Marcus Mapstone, Scott Brice, Josh Jeffries (Charlie Rich 73 mins), Craig Loxton, Ben Lacey (Ben Osman 45 mins), James Billing (Joe Vyner 69 mins), Dan Cleverley (C), Nick McCootie.
Subs not used: Steve Bridges, Dan Cottle.

Referee: David Bryant

Assts: Joanna Stimpson / Peter Mawhood

Attendance: 152