Rovers got off to a flying start as Ryan Gay fed left winger Ed Butcher who drove past the home defender to thump the ball firmly past Rhys Wilson in the Penybont net.

His opposite number Joe Perry was kept busy saving from Cullen Kinsella and Kane Owens.

Butcher again tested Wilson and then his free kick was headeD wide by Joe Hillard.

Penybont pressed, skimming the crossbar and again Rovers were grateful to Perry saving from no 9. On 38 minutes a deep cross from the left from Owens was well headed home by Kinsella to level.

Paulton started the second half brightly with Mason Harrison's cross headed wide by Craig Allan then Abrahams won the ball to give Butcher a chance to shoot.

A misplaced ball fell to Curtis Hutson and with the Bont winger one on one with the onrushing Perry, he inexplicably shot wide. However after fifty four minutes Hutson made it 2-1 driving a low shot past Perry.

Rovers then dominated with Jack Davies now in the home goal well tested by Butcher and sub Lewis Bond Kendall.

Paulton pressed for that deserved equaliser with Hillard, Allan and captain Charlie Hitchings all going near. In the final minute Harrison burst forward only for his goal bound shot to be flicked away for a corner.

For John Rendell men they go to Bridgwater Town on Tuesday KO 7-45 then home to Bristol Rovers next Friday 19 July with a 7-30 pm kick off.