MANGOTSFIELD UNITED 1 v 1 PAULTON ROVERS

A game started in heavy rain and finished on a wet sodden pitch was a credit to both sides and the Mangotsfield United groundsman as Rovers took a deserved point against their top four rivals.

Despite not playing for four weeks Paulton started brightly and attacked 'The Mango's' back line with the versatile Ben Lacey and Josh Klein-Davies threatening up front. Right back Stuart Tovey hitting a long range effort narrowly wide.

United's best effort was Josh Egan laying the ball to Lewis Powell whose hit a poor shot wide.

Paulton went ahead after twenty minutes Lacey cut in from the right dribbled past two defender and found Klein-Davies in space to hit a firm low drive past home keeper Kevin Sawyer.

Five minutes later 'The Mango's best chance saw an Egan cross headed on by ex Bath City striker Darren Edwards into the path of Powell to shot just wide.

Mangotsfield levelled on twenty nine minutes. A corner from the left by Luke Ballinger swirl in the wing and a scrambled ensued in the Paulton goal area falling to Edwards to stamp home.

With the rain now in torrents, an increasing gale and surface water lingeering on the pitch it was no surprise to see referee Mr Penwell try rolling the ball before the start of the second half.

Both sides continued to play football keeping the ball on the ground.
However it was difficult to avoid the muddy patches and a mistake was likely to see either side winning.

In the sixty first minute Klein-Davies seized on an error ran goal ward to lay the ball into the path of Brandon Barnes who instead of hitting left footed ran to the right and tried a shot with his weaker foot that was cleared.

In reply Ashley Williams found space as the ball stuck in the muddy condition and tried a shot which he hit over the bar.

A fair result which see Paulton still fourth with their hosts one place ahead and both in the promotion hunt.

Paulton Rovers - Kyle Phillips, Suart Tovey, Ryan Batten, Scott Brice, Marcus Mapstone, Brandon Barnes (sub Saul Williams 67 mins), Mike Perrott, Ben Lacey, Dean Evans, Josh Klein-Davies (Nick McCootie 77), Dan Cleverley (C), .

Subs not used - Sam Teale, Mike Reaney, Darren Jefferies.

Paulton man of the match - Ben Lacey