PAULTON ROVERS 1 v 2 FLEET TOWN

Rovers played their first match at home since Boxing Day and due to some heavy pre-match showers the pitch soon became boggy and both sides failed to create clear cut chances in the first half. Ryan Bath was given his debut after joining in the week from Mangotsfield United as Mike Perrott missed out through illness.

Josh Klein-Davies had the best of the Rovers chances in the early stages of the half but the Fleet keeper coped well with the few efforts that came at him. Ben Lacey was Rovers outlet and his pace and direct running was creating problems for the Fleet defence and his crosses created chances for Dean Evans and Klein-Davies but neither was able to really test Pryce in the Fleet goal.

Fleets best chance of the half came when Simba Mlambo shot narrowly wide after a good interchange of passes between Pat Cox and Jack French.

Neither side could fashion any real chances and the half ended goalless.

Rovers lost influential captain Dan Cleverley at half time and Sam Teale came on to make his home debut in his place. Fleet started the brighter in the second half and they were rewarded in the 46th minute when a free kick was flicked into the path of Mlambo who nipped in behind a static Rovers defence to put the visitors one up.

The goal served as a bit of a wake up call for Rovers and Barnes was unlucky to see his shot strike the post after he skilfully beat 3 Fleet players after picking up the ball in the centre circle.

The equaliser came in the 55th minute when Ryan Batten played a neat ball through to Barnes who cut in and finished well from the edge of the area.

Both sides started to press for the winner and it was Fleet who grabbed the winner when Cox was released through the middle and he unselfishly played in Mlambo for his second of the game.

Bunyard looked to striker McCootie to come on and find a way back into the game but his closest effort was a header from a Barnes free kick that went narrowly over the crossbar.

Rovers continued to search for an equaliser as the full time whistle loomed but it proved elusive and Fleet will travel home with the 3 points.

Att:145

Line up: Phillips, Tovey, Batten, Brice, Mapstone, Barnes, Evans, Lacey, Klein-Davies (Jefferies), Cleverley (C) (Teale), Bath (McCootie)

Subs not used: Reaney and Jeffries