STRATFORD TOWN 1 v 2 PAULTON ROVERS

(Aside) Dean Evans who hit Paulton's match winner

Paulton travelled up to Shakespeare Country to face in form Stratford Town and inflicted the Midlands club with only their second loss in their last eight league games.

They were without Josh Klein-Davies (suspended), Scott Brice (attending a wedding) and Ryan Bath.

Rovers stared with intent and Mike Perrott was set up by Dan Cleverley. His shot was parried by home keeper Andy Kemp who then brilliantly saved Brandon Barnes follow up shot.

Nick McCoootie outpaced the Town defence worked well with Dean Evans and whose ball into the area saw Kemp block Perrott attempt on goal.

In the eleventh minute Evans cross was flicked goal ward by Marcus Mapstone only for that man Kemp to stretch and save the ball.

Three minutes later Stratford's first chance saw tricky winger Jamie Sheldon bring a save from Rovers keeper Kyle phillips and the division's leading scorer Richard gregory fire high over the bar.

Paulton fired shot at Kemp from perrott, Saul Williams and McCootie.
However against the run of play Stratford took the lead on nineteen minutes.

Sheldon's corner on the left was beaten away but his cross back into the area was headed back across goal by Callum Burgess and bundled home by defender Guy Clark.

Undauted Rovers hit back and levelled none minutes later. Cleverley sent a ball out to Perrott on left who cut inside hit his shot goalwards and it had cross the line before Town defender help the ball further into ther net under prssure from Saul Williamms.

Paulton kept up the om slaught with McCootie proving difficult to handle and Stratford resorting to pumping high ball which were meat and drink to Mapstone and Ryan Batten in the heart of the visiting defence.

Two minutes into the second half and Paulton had a great chance to take the lead. perrott cross from ther left was met too early by an unmarked Williams and he headed high over the bar.

That lead was acheived just two minutes after that. Left back Sam Teale found McCootie ran at two defender before laying the ball back to the left of the penalty area finging Evans. His firm right foot drive went across Kemp to make it 2-1.

Kemp twice saved one on one with McCootie and then the Paulton strike ran from the half way line only to see his shot brilliantly saved by man of the match Kemp.

Fifteen minutes from time McCootie won a tackle, his shot was block falling to Williams only to see his effort deflected over the bar for a corner.

In the eighty fifth minute Stratford midfield made a horendous two footed challlenge on Rovers' Saul Williams. Was shown a red card and dismissed from the field.

Town tried a late rally, but their high ball game was totally ineffective with Rovers deservadly taking the three point back down the M5.

Paulton Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Tovey, Sam Teale, Marcus Mapstone, Ryan Batten, Brandon Barnes (sub Ben Lacey 75 mins.), Mike Perrott, Ben Lacey, Saul Williams, Dan Cleverley (C), Nick McCootie (Josh Jeffries 85).

Subs not used: Callum Hinder, Paul Milsom, Nick Bunyard,

Paulton star man - Ryan Batten
Man of the match - Andy Kemp (Stratford Town)
Entertainment Value 3 out of 5

Referee - Andrew Fox