EVESHAM UNITED 0 PAULTON ROVERS 2

This was a far more comfortable victory for Rovers than the score line would suggest as apart from two saves in quick succession in the first half keeper, Kyle Phillips, enjoyed a quiet afternoon between the posts.

Rovers should have been ahead as early as the 2nd minute when Nick McCootie collected a Mike Reaney ball forward and raced into the home sides’ box only to be brought down by a United defender, who somewhat surprisingly escaped without as much as a yellow card and his team was then let completely off the hook as keeper, Ben McNamara, dived low to his right to save Brandon Barnes’ penalty kick. Josh Jeffries then completely missed a volley from a Barnes corner and Scott Brice saw his follow up effort blocked before, a minute later, heading another Barnes corner wide. United then had two chances as Nathan Hands crossed from the left and Marcus Mapstone’s clearing header dropped to Leigh Downing on the edge of his box and he sent in a fierce shot that Phillips did well to turn over the bar. From the resultant corner taken low to the near post, Marcus Palmer got in a shot that Phillips did well to block.

Rovers deservedly went ahead on 22 minutes with a throw in from the right, which saw the ball played square to skipper, Dan Cleverley and his neat pass inside the full back saw Brandon Barnes cut in from the left and fire the ball across McNamara and into the bottom corner of the net.

The visitors were on top now and only a great challenge from a United defender prevented the lively McCootie being clear on goal and then moments later a poor back pass saw the same player charge down McNamara’s attempted clearance, which went just wide of the post.

Therefore it was no surprise that Rovers doubled their lead 3 minutes from the interval as Stuart Pearson’s ball forward found McCootie on the half way line and he slipped a neat ball through to Barnes, who raced clear, before slotting the ball home from just inside the area.

The start to the second half was very poor as the home side just seemed content to send hopeful balls into the Rovers’ box which Brice and Mapstone dealt with comfortably and Rovers struggled to string any passes together. However the game should have been made secure on 62 minutes when Cleverley sent substitute, Joe Bushin, away down the right and his superb pass across the six yard line picked out James Billing at the far post, who somehow managed to blaze over the open goal. He did almost redeem the miss 3 minutes later, with a turn and shot from 20 yards out, which McNamara touched over the bar, although the referee awarded a goal kick! Rovers were unlucky not to score on 75 minutes as Reaney and Billing combined down the left and Billing’s cross from the goal line saw McNamara make a great point blank save from Bushin’s header.

In truth the home side never looked like threatening to get back in the game and only a professional foul by skipper, Matt Sysum prevented Bushin going through on goal and then in the final minute Barnes should have completed a hat trick as he raced clear from a neat pass from Bushin only to send his shot wide of the post.

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Pearson, Mike Reaney, Marcus Mapstone, Scott Brice, Josh Jeffries (Ben Osman 76 mins), Craig Loxton, Brandon Barnes, James Billing, Dan Cleverley (C), Nick McCootie(Joe Bushin 55 mins).
Subs not used: Stuart Tovey, Steve Bridges.

Referee: Mark Howes

Assts: Richard Gardner / Darren Wilding

Attendance: 193