PAULTON ROVERS 3 NORTH LEIGH 1

Rovers moved back into the final play-off position in the league with a deserved victory over North Leigh.

However it was the visitors who began much the brighter and in the first minute top scorer, John Mills, spurned a chance to give his side the perfect start firing across home keeper, Kyle Phillips and wide of the far post after John Else had set up the position with a ball inside full back, Stuart Tovey. Rovers’ first chance came on 11 minutes with a good move that saw Nick McCootie lay the ball off to Craig Loxton on the right and his first shot was well saved by visiting keeper, Sam Warrell and Loxton’s second attempt went across goal, hit the foot of the post and was scrambled clear. Once again McCootie turned in a great performance leading the line and on 25 minutes he set up Loxton for another shot but this time it took a defection into the side netting and from the resulting corner Scott Brice headed just wide. North Leigh’s attacks were now few and far between although Else did do well to cut inside a shot over the bar on 27 minutes. Rovers came close on 33 minutes after Josh Jeffries was brought down just outside the area and Brandon Barnes saw his free kick bend around the wall only to be pushed away by the diving Warrell. Loxton’s corner then found Brice at the far post and his downward header was saved again by the athletic keeper. The home side had a let off on 37 minutes when Marcus Mapstone conceded a free kick 30 yards out, which Else took and it was headed on to skipper, Stuart Hole, whose right foot shot on the stretch found the side netting.

With 2 minutes left in the half Rovers broke the deadlock with a move down the left as Loxton and Charlie Rich (on as a substitute for the injured Jack Allward), combined to set up Barnes for a shot across goal that found the bottom corner of the net.

The lead was doubled 3 minutes after the interval in bizarre fashion as Tovey played a good pass down the right touchline to Loxton who twisted, turned and sent over, what must have been an attempted cross that curled over Warrell and nestled in the far corner of the net.

McCootie went close with a free kick after Jeffries had been impeded and Barnes had a deflected shot into the side netting as the home side seemed to grow in confidence. North Leigh brought on Brian Bowles to play down the right and he immediately caused the home defence problems firing across goal and just wide of the far post and then shooting straight at Phillips. Rovers responded and Loxton’s neat back heel set up Barnes for a shot from a narrow angle that Warrell blocked. Loxton then set up McCootie but his shot was easily saved and the visitors broke quickly and another of their substitutes, Ryan Brooks tested Phillips with a drive from just outside the box.

Rovers looked to have put the game beyond North Leigh’s reach with a superb third goal in the 79th minute as McCootie went on a great run down the right, going past the defence, before unselfishly squaring the ball to Barnes who calmly slotted the ball home under the diving Warrell.

However the visitors reduced the arrears just a minute later with a neat passing move through the heart of the Rovers’ defence, before Brooks played the ball to the right, where Conor McDonough fired the ball across Phillips and into the net.

Rovers then easily held on to claim the points and re-establish their play off ambitions.

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Tovey, Jack Allward (Charlie Rich 23 mins), Marcus Mapstone, Scott Brice, Josh Jeffries, Craig Loxton, Ben Lacey, Nick McCootie (Joe Vyner 89 mins), Dan Cleverley (C), Brandon Barnes.
Subs not used: Lee Davidson, Dan Cottle, James Billing

Referee: Gary Parsons

Assts: Colin Hubbard / Collins Benin

Attendance: 97