PAULTON ROVERS 1 CIRENCESTER TOWN 0

Rovers made it 7 wins out of 7 but were made to work very hard for the three points that keeps them in 4th place and firmly in contention for the end of season play-offs. In truth they looked tired in the second half, having played 4 games in 8 days, but a solid defensive performance saw them come through a severe examination from their in-form visitors.

The game got off to an even start with Town having a penalty claim turned down in the 6th minute when an attacker went down in the box, but the referee correctly allowed play to continue as Mike Reaney won the ball cleanly. At the other end skipper, Dan Cleverley, played a great pass out left to Brandon Barnes, whose neat flick looked to have set up Joe Bushin, until he was crowded out by two defenders.

The breakthrough and what proved to be the winning goal came in the 22nd minute with a move of real quality, which was sadly absent from much of this match. It came down the right wing as Bushin’s pass sent Nick McCootie away and having reached the by line, his right foot cross found Barnes at the far post, who smashed home the volley for his 6th goal in the last 4 games.

The home side came close to adding to their lead on 33 minutes with another sweeping move, this time from the left, as McCotie found Barnes and his whipped in cross saw Ben Osman, at full stretch, head over the bar. Rovers were indebted to full back Stuart Pearson on 37 minutes as Osman conceded a free kick wide on the Town left. Ben Wells sent over a free kick that keeper, Kyle Phillips, called for but didn’t get and Pearson produced a spectacular overhead kick to clear the ball off the line. The home side had a further chance 4 minutes from the break as McCootie and Barnes combined to set Bushin through but Glyn Garner in the Town goal produced a good save and cleared his lines quickly, allowing Andrew Bennett to get in a shot that Phillips saved easily.

The second half saw an improved Town performance with Shane Bumphrey unlucky to see his 48th minute shot take a deflection over the bar with Phillips seemingly beaten. From Wells’ subsequent corner Ellis Dunton sent his header over the bar. It was 54 minutes before the hosts threatened again as Osman took a free kick 35 yards out, after McCootie had been brought down, but Garner gathered well low to his left. Just a minute later and Wells sent over a dangerous ball from the right and Pearson did well to head out for a corner, with Bumphrey poised behind to head on goal. Rovers had a chance to put the game beyond doubt with a move in the 73rd minute that saw Barnes set up Bushin but the ball bobbled and Garner had an easy take.

Cirencester to their credit pressed to the end but Rovers’ superbly marshalled back four ensured Phillips was relatively untroubled and despite the visitors enjoying territorial advantage and most of the possession it was Rovers who claimed three more vital points.

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Pearson, Mike Reaney, Marcus Mapstone, Scott Brice, Brandon Barnes (Steve Bridges 83 mins), Craig Loxton, Ben Osman (Josh Jeffries 62 mins), Joe Bushin, Dan Cleverley (C), Nick McCootie (James Billing 76 mins).
Subs not used: Stuart Tovey, Ben Lacey.

Referee: Adam Ricketts

Assts: Nigel Sykes / Oliver Ballinger.

Attendance: 148