SWINDON SUPERMARINE 2 PAULTON ROVERS 1

Rovers lost out in the battle of the play off hopefuls as their hosts came back from a goal down to claim the points with a storming second half performance.

The visitors were forced to reshuffle their defence with Stuart Pearson being unavailable new signing, Mike Reaney, switched from left to right full back allowing the return of Jack Allward. The first chance of the came, in the 2nd minute and fell to Reaney as he played a 1-2 with James Billing before firing a shot just wide of the far post. Rovers went close again on 8 minutes as Nick McCootie’s pass sent Brandon Barnes away down the left only to be brought down 25 yards out. Barnes’ free kick picked out Marcus Mapstone, but his downward header went wide of the far post. Marine’s first threat came on 12 minutes as Mapstone got in a great block to thwart a Josh Parsons shot and from the resultant corner Jamie Prictor found Rob Dean on the edge of the box but his shot was easily saved by keeper, Kyle Phillips.

Both sides had chances to break the deadlock as McCootie did exceptionally well to collect a ball down the right and cut inside only for his shot to be pushed out for a corner by home keeper, Kent Kauppinen, while at the other end Parsons went close with a header that had Phillips beaten after Ben Osman had conceded a free kick. Prictor should have done better with a shot that was easily saved after good work by Ashley Edenborough, while Osman had a shot easily saved and then fired over the bar after a good run by Ben Lacey.

With the half seemingly destined to end goalless Rovers struck in the final minute as Osman’s corner from the left went beyond the far post where Scott Brice headed back across goal to Mapstone who headed home.

The first opportunity of the second period fell to Rovers just 2 minutes after the restart as McCootie did well to collect the ball and set up skipper, Dan Cleverley, whose 20 yard effort was well saved. Marine responded when an excellent through ball, between the Rovers’ two central defenders, looked to have sent Edenborough clear but Mapstone got in a great tackle to clear the danger.

However Rovers’ relief was short lived as the equaliser came on 55 minutes when Kauppinen sent a free kick down the right channel and Edenborough’s pulled back cross picked out Parsons who duly fired home.

Marine almost went ahead 2 minutes later with a sweeping move that saw the ball switched from the left to Prictor on the right and his close just eluded two of his colleagues at full stretch. Rovers then went close as McCootie did well to win the ball and find Cleverley, whose ball forward saw Billing win the race with Kauppinen, but his touch went wide of the post.

The home side now began to take control as Edenborough flashed a shot over the bar, Parsons shot straight at Phillips and Reaney cleared an in-swinging Prictor corner off the line. Brice then picked up a booking for a foul on Edenborough that saw the striker forced to leave the field and Phillips did well to save the resultant free kick from Parsons. Allward joined his colleague in the book on 77 minutes as Rovers struggled to contain their hosts and although they dealt with the free kick it came back to the taker, Chris Taylor, whose curling effort went wide of the far post.

With the pressure mounting Dean had a free header from a left wing corner clip the top of the bar before on 85 minutes the home side grabbed a deserved winner.

It came from a neat passing www.somervalleyfm.co.ukmove down the centre, which ended with a pass into the Rovers’ box where Dean made amends for his earlier miss by slotting the ball past the advancing Phillips and into the net.

Rovers never looked like getting back into the game as Marine held on to consolidate third place and leave their visitors three points off the final play-off position

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Mike Reaney, Jack Allward (Charlie Rich 80 mins), Marcus Mapstone, Scott Brice, Ben Osman (Craig Loxton 72 mins), Ben Lacey, James Billing. Dan Cleverley (C), Nick Mcootie.
Subs not used: Josh Jeffries, Joe Vyner.

Rovers’ Star Man: Marcus Mapstone

Referee: Ben James

Assts: Steve Winters / Kevin Norris

Attendance: 107

Highlights from Paulton's trip to Swindon will be broadcast on March 12 at 6-30 pm on the Somer Valley Sports Show with sports presenter Ian Nockolds. Broadcasting online at www.somervalleyfm.co.uk or on 97.5 Somer Valley FM the community radio station serving the people of Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Radstock and the Mendips.