Rovers seal easy win

Paulton had an untroubled afternoon in securing three points away at Thatcham Town to keep up their promtion challenge and retain second place in the table.

Rovers went one up in the seventh minute when Josh Klein-Davies was fouled just outside the box and Brandon Barnes thumped home the free kick past an home keeper Aaron Carter.

The visitors increased there lead four minutes later when Nick McCootie's shot was deflected for a corner which Barnes swing in from the left, Ollie Prices flicked header caused confusion in the Kingfisher's defence and McCootie slammed the ball home from close range.

Paulton continued to dominate with wave and after wave of attacks with captain Dan Cleverley and Mike Perrott running the midfield, Barnes and Ben Lacey causing havoc down the wings.

In defence centre backs Scott Brice and Marcus Mapstone won every challenge giving full backs Price and Mike Reaney scope to attack down the wings as Rovers keeper Kyle phillips did not have a shot to save. However Nick Bunyard's men had to settle for only a two nil half time lead.

Paulton striker's McCootie and Klein-Davies were posing lots of threats as the second half livened up.

Thatcham lost their keeper Aaron Carter on the hour when he overstretched clearing McCootie's through ball.

Rovers made it 3-0 in the 68th minute when McCootie split the Thatcham defence allowing Ben Lacey to race on to the ball and drive it in to the net past dispairing substitute keeper Paul Taplin.

Rovers domination saw Barnes have two good opportunities but missed the target whilst subs James Billing and Paddy Doyle just continued the effectiveness of the Paulton squad and both could have increased their teams lead.

18 year old Doyle who has progressed through the youth team, had a lone spell at Welton Rovers last season and suffered a broken leg, looked a bright prospect when he came on for Barnes in the last ten minutes.

Thatcham's only meaningful effort on goal came when Ben McCready's shot went wide in the final minute giving Rovers keeper Phillips a very quiet afternoon.

Paulton Rovers -Kyle Phillips, Ollie Price, Scott Brice, Mike Reaney, Brandon Barnes (sub Paddy Doyle 80 mins, Mike Perrott, Ben Lacey, Josh Jeffries 68), Nick McCootie (James Billing 75), Dan Cleverley (C), Josh Klein-Davies.

Subs not used - Paul Milsom

Man of the match: Brandon Barnes (Paulton Rovers