BISHOPS CLEEVE 0 PAULTON ROVERS 1

Rovers got their play off ambitions back on track with a narrow victory over bottom of the table, Bishops Cleeve, on a bitterly cold night and heavy pitch.

The visitors got off to the perfect start, as in the 3rd minute right back, Stuart Tovey, sent a header between two home defenders allowing James Billing to race away from just inside the host’s half and he kept his nerve to slot the ball past the advancing keeper and into the far bottom corner of the net.

The home side almost levelled a minute later with a corner that saw both Rovers’ central defenders, Scott Brice and Marcus Mapstone, trying to head clear, but the ball dropped to Cleeve’s player manager, Alex Sykes, whose well struck volley was touched over the bar by his own striker, Jake Lee, standing near the six yard line. Rovers then had two further chances as Jack Allward’s cross found Nick McCootie whose volley on the turn was easily saved before Billing shot over after McCootie set him up for the shot. Sykes went close for the home side on 9 minutes with a 30 yard free kick that went wide of the far post after a great run from Saul Williams ended with a foul by Mapstone.

Having settled down after the initial exchanges the game came to life again on 19 minutes with a great run down the right by Ben Lacey, whose near post cross was touched onto the outside of the near post by McCootie. Two minutes later and it was the home side who struck the woodwork as a great run from full back, Alex Hoyle, ended with a shot that thumped back off the bar with Rovers’ keeper, Kyle Phillips, well beaten. Ben Maguire then sent a free kick across the Rovers’ box and just wide of the far post.

Rovers felt they should have had a penalty on 27 minutes as McCootie’s run and cross from the right was headed back across goal by Craig Loxton to Billing who went down under a challenge but play was allowed to continue. The first half ended in something of a midfield stalemate with the only effort of note a long range effort from Maguire, which Phillips coped with comfortably.

No doubt fired up by a half time talk Rovers came out in determined fashion and but for some excellent saves from home keeper, James Nortei, could have sealed the game in the first few minutes. In the 46th minute skipper, Dan Cleverley, released McCootie but Nortei dived bravely at his feet to make the block and then after Loxton’s shot was blocked, Billing lashed an effort that Nortei palmed away to safety. Loxton then took a right wing corner to pick out Mapstone, but his looping header dropped onto the roof of the net. The hard working McCootie then did well to win and hold the ball down the left channel before setting up Billing for another shot that was blocked by Nortei.

Both sides then had chances from volleys as Maguire sent his well over the bar while at the other end Josh Jeffries saw his effort comfortably handled by Nortei after a Lacey cross. The home side improved with the introduction of substitute, Ian Sercombe on 66 minutes and it took him just 5 minutes to set up a cross from the right that picked out Lee at the near post but a great covering challenge from Tovey ensured his touch went wide. With 9 minutes left Hole sent a throw in into the Rovers’ box and Sercombe looked about to equalise when a sliding tackle from Tovey got the ball away to safety. Rovers then had a let off with 4 minutes left as Allward appeared to handle the ball in the area but again play continued and Sercombe’s shot went across goal and just wide of the far post.

Rovers undoubtedly deserved the win but again failed to kill the game off having taken an early lead and created numerous chances. The win takes them into 5th place and the final play off spot.

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Tovey, Jack Allward, Marcus Mapstone, Scott Brice, Josh Jeffries, Craig Loxton. Ben Lacey, James Billing, Dan Cleverley (C), Nick McCootie (Joe Vyner 68 mins).
Subs not used: Josh Egan, Charlie Rich, Steve Bridges.

Referee: Adrian Gillett

Assts: Constandinous Christodoulou / Neal Templey

Attendance: 48