Report by Ben Wilson

After a draw and two defeats, Rovers finally exorcised their pre-season hoodoo with a hard-fought 2-1 win over newly promoted Western League Premier outfit Wells City.

Paulton started brightly, crafting the game’s first chance on five minutes. Neat interplay saw the ball worked out wide to lively newcomer Darren McAllister, who slipped inside Wells’ right-back and drove low towards goal. The opposition keeper saved well with his legs.

Two minutes later the action was mirrored at the other end. Wells’ right winger timed his run behind the Paulton defence perfectly, and this time it was the Rovers keeper’s turn to fend a dangerous strike away with his shins.

Rovers began to control the tempo without looking especially threading. The main threat came from Krystian Woods’ corners. On 24 minutes, captain Jack Dancey rose to power one such cross goalwards, only to be thwarted by a brave Wells defender throwing his body in the way.

Woods’ next corner swung directly onto the crossbar, but by that point Paulton were a goal down.

Wells had barely threatened when their number 11 picked up the ball from the left. Perhaps this caused Rovers to switch off momentarily as he drove into the box and whipped in a low cross. James Tait controlled the ball well with his first touch, then used his second to drill low into the far corner.

Without a win in pre-season, Rovers needed a response after half-time. Instead, Wells should have put the game away immediately following the restart. A low free kick from the right fizzed across the Paulton box, narrowly evading at least two outstretched Wells boots. It was to prove the match’s turning point.

Moments later, Sid Partridge gained possession in defence. Spotting Brandon Bak pulling away from his marker, he lifted a long pass over the Wells backline. Bak controlled the ball beautifully before calmly chipping the onrushing keeper.

Bak was again instrumental in Paulton’s next attack, holding the ball up before laying off to McAllister. This time, from 20 yards, the winger made no mistake, curling an exquisite ‘top bins’ rocket into the far right corner.

McAllister might have added to his tally two minutes later, racing through one-on-one, only to drag his shot wide.

Good work from Jamarni Langlais also saw Rovers go close to a third, but Trialist B fired straight at the keeper.

From that point the game ebbed away, but there was a welcome opportunity to applaud former Rovers’ favourite David O’Hare, following his introduction from the bench.