TAUNTON TOWN 0 PAULTON ROVERS 2

This was certainly not one of Rovers’ best performances of recent weeks but was still good enough to secure another vital three points, against a determined Taunton Town, in their quest to reach the end of season play offs and gained revenge for a 3-2 FA Cup Replay defeat on the same ground back in August.

Rovers preparations were not helped by a 15 minute delay as players and staff were stuck on the M5 following an accident and the referee was requiring additional ground work due to partial flooding as a result of a heavy shower.

When play did get under way it was an even start, but the home side should have been ahead in the 6th minute when a break down the left saw a good pass inside full back, Stuart Tovey and Josh Wadham raced away to the by line before pulling the ball back to Khaled Badavi, who with an open goal at his mercy, saw the ball bobble over his foot and away to safety. Rovers responded and skipper, Dan Cleverley sent a pass into Billing, which he chested down and the skipper sent in a right footed volley straight at home keeper, Christian Watts. Town had another opportunity on 17 minutes as Marcus Mapstone conceded a free kick 30 yards out and Alex Jeannin sent in a fierce left footed shot that keeper, Kyle Phillips, did well to stop, but couldn’t hold and fortunately it was defender, Stuart Pearson, who reacted quickest to clear the danger. From the resultant corner from the right, taken by Jamie Short, Ed Weeks sent his header wide of the near post.

With the disappointing first half drawing to a close Rovers finally began to show why they had won their last 8 matches with a neat passing move through the centre that ended with Billing setting up Craig Loxton, on the edge of the box, but his chip cleared the keeper and the bar. Then in the final minute Ben Lacey’s run down the right was ended with a poor challenge from behind that earned Wadham a yellow card and Rovers a free kick. Brandon Barnes in-swinging effort looked to be drifting wide of the far post until a diving Cleverley headed into the net.

Rovers began the second half with much more confidence but despite using the advantage of the slope well, Watts was rarely threatened and they were then indebted to Mapstone for two excellent clearances under pressure. The visitors pace was always likely to cause the home defence problems and after a great run and cross from Barnes, which Ben Mammola did well to cut out, they were unlucky not to stretch their lead in the 65th minute. Loxton picked out Barnes with an excellent pass and his curled cross took out two defenders but Joe Bushin, on the slide, saw his shot thump the bar and go away to safety.

However the visitors were spared any anxiety with a second goal, 10 minutes from the end. Bushin was adjudged to have been pushed in the back and Mike Reaney’s free kick, from wide on the left, saw the ex Tiverton Town striker send in a fine header that Watts did well to stop, but he could only parry it into the path of substitute, Nick McCootie, who slammed the ball home.

Rovers held on comfortably to once again overtake Merthyr Town and move into 4th place, although the Welshmen have two games in hand and extend their lead over rivals, Yate Town to six points.

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Tovey, Mike Reaney, Marcus Mapstone, Stuart Pearson, Brandon Barnes (Steve Bridges 85 mins), Craig Loxton (josh Jeffries 87 mins), Ben Lacey, James Billing (Nick McCootie 55 mins), Dan Cleverley (C), Joe Bushin.
Subs not used: James Vincent, Ben Osman.

Referee: Adam Nunn

Assts: Richard Lawrence Colin Pink

Attendance: 151