CIRENCESTER TOWN 2 v 2 PAULTON ROVERS

Paulton travelled to top of the table Cirencester Town and came away with deserved point.

'The Centurion's' took the lead after twenty three seconds when James Mortimer-Jones picked up a loose ball and hit a superb shot from twenty five yards out which sailed past Rovers keeper Kyle Phillips and into the top corner of the net.

Both sides mounted a series of attacks with defence's coping until Paulton levelled in the twelveth minute when Dean Evans cross was headed downwards to Brandon Barnes into the path of Nick McCottie who shrugged off his marker to beat Ciren keeper Glyn Garner.

Phillips pulled off a fine save with his feet as Lee Smith descended on his goal to fend off what appear a clear cut chance to the home side.

With both sides matching each other it looked as if Cirencester should have taken the lead on the stroke of half time. Smith cut in from the right across the Paulton line of defence and planted his shot at the foot of the Rovers left hand post and McCootie was on hand to clear.

Rovers were on top for the first fifteen minutes of the second half with Town matching them in the midway stage. However in that time Phillips fisted away Mortimer-Jones volley whilst Barnes, Lacey and Josh Klein-Davies all had shots blocked and McCootie curled the ball narrowly wide of Garner's goal.

Evans who was working hard in the Rovers midfield started a flowing move involving McCootie, Darren Jefferies and Lacey who found Barnes but the winger shot wide.

'Ciren' saw shots from Sean Wood and Mortimer-Jones fired wide.

Then slightly against the run of play the home side went ahead after seventy two minutes. Smith hit a deep ball from the right and Steve Davies headed past Phillips to score.

Paulton always looked as if they could hit back and did so with nine minutes left. Ben Lacey who had had a very quiet night cut in from the left and his defence splitting pass found Jefferies. He controlled the ball before drilling it passed Garner to make it 2-2 to move Rovers into second place on goal difference.

Klein-Davies and young substitute Joe Vyner nearly got on the end of chances to win the match for Rovers, but Smith and Aidan Bennett could have done the same for the hosts.

A great game from two sides who will surely be in the promotion chase.

A pity the crowd was only 121 with about forty Paulton supporters. This game was far better entertainment value than some of the fodder served up higher up the pyramid.

Paulton Rovers - Kyle Phillips, Ryan Batten (sub Mike Reaney 60 mins), Scott Brice, Dan Cleverley (C), Marcus Mapstone, Dean Evans, Brandon Barnes, Darren Jefferies (Josh Jeffries 86), Ben Lacey, Josh Klein-Davies, Nick McCottie (Joe Vyner 77).

Sub not used - Ollie Price, Nick Bunyard.

Paulton man of ther match - Dean Evans

Cirencester sponsors man of the match - Aidan Bennett