PAULTON ROVERS 3 v 4 STRATFORD TOWN

Paulton rearranged fixture against Stratford Town proved something of a first half disaster as they surrendered the league lead.

Paulton went four goaals down in a disfunctional first half display yet nearly got a deserved point in 'a game of two halves'

Rovers had an enterprising start with no real penetration as Town played flowing football with strike Matt West as their target up front.

West opened the scoring with a headerafter twenty five minutes as a deep cross was headed back across goal by Evans.

Four minutes later West added his second when Adkins through ball allowed him to outpace the home defence and shot home past Kyle Phillips in the Paulton goal.

Statford pushed forward and West saw his hat trick chance saved by Phillips.

In the thirty second minute Town went 3-0 up as Richard Gregory cut in from the left to hit a pile driver into the roof of the net.

Paulton tried to hit back with Ben Lacey and Jake Harris linking up to give James Billing a shooting chance which was blocked.

It was no surprise to see Stuart Hendrie dribbled through a Rovers defence at 'sixes and sevens' to make it 4-0 for the visitors.

On the stroke of half time Paulton should have pulled one back when Billing out jumped Town keeper Sam Brady, the ball fell to Mike Perrott but his shot was to firm and struck the bar.

Rovers showed a totally different approach in the second half with Marcus Mapstone heading narrowly wide from Brandon Barnes free kick after a foul on Billing.

On fifty one minutes Paulton captain Dan Cleverley was tripped in the box and barnes converted the resultant penalty.

Nick McCootie on a substitute was making a difference and creating chances and trying shots which were keeping Brady busy.

Lacey hit the post in the sixty nineth minutes and McCootie, Billing and Barnes all had shots narrowly wide.

Six minutes from time West ran on to a Richard Gregory pass only to be hauled down by sub Ollie Price. Phillips made a great save from Gregory's spot kick.

On the nintieth minute Mapstone stroked the ball down the left wing for barnes to run onto and defender Scott Brice who had pushed up in a last ditch Rovers attempt to score did so with clinical finish of a goal poacher.

Paulton kept up the intense pressure and in time added on Billing's shot took a wicked deflection off McCootie to make it 4-3 to Rovers.

If Rovers had defended better they may have got a point, but on this performance they need to tighten up that defence.

Paulton Rovers - Kyle Phillips, Dave Thompson, Mike Reaney (sub Ollie Price 72 mins), Marcus Mapstone, Scott Brice, Brandon Barnes, Mike Perrott (Dean Evans 71), Ben Lacey, Dan Cleverley, James Billing, Jake Harris (66 Nick McCootie) .

Subs not used: Josh Jeffries, Josh Klein-Davies