Highworth performed a real smash and grab win despite being outplayed by Paulton Rovers.

The visitors were without leading scorer, Leighton Thomas, out with a hamstring injury.

An early interplay involving Will Harvey and Bristol City loanee, Barney Soady, laid the ball back to Liban Ibrahim to fire wide who then had a shot held by Highworth keeper, Connor Johns.

The hosts responded as Toby Holland found veteran striker, Ashley Edenbourgh, whose effort was held by Rovers’ stopper, Aaron Sainsbury.

Rovers pressed and Jack Ball and Dave O’Hare both drove chances wide, then Ed Butcher saw his volley tipped over the bar by Johns.

On the restart O’Hare played in Ball whose shot was blocked and cleared for Edenborough to race on and open the scoring on 51 minutes.

Paulton thought they should have levelled as Butcher’s cross was headed home by Ball, with the linesman flagging offside against a Rovers player not involved in the build-up.

That proved pivotal as yet another hoofed Ball down field saw Edenborough find Rob Dean to make it 2–0 on 79 minutes.

Immediately Ibrahim, through Ball, split the defence and Harvey saw his effort hit the side netting.

The Worthians’ constant long ball, reminiscent of being at a rugby match, witnessed Dean get a third goal in the 85 minute.

Three minutes later Paulton grabbed what would be slim consolation as James Byrne laid the ball to Ibrahim who hit a low shot past a helpless Johns.

In time added on, Charlie McRae made it 4–1, again chasing a long ball to round Sainsbury and turn into an open net.

Rovers were back in action on Tuesday, Away to Taunton Town in the Quarter Final of the Southern League Challenge Cup, kick-off at 7.45 pm and then home on Saturday in the league to Plymouth Parkway, 3 pm kick-off.

Star Man of the Match Liban Ibrahim (Paulton Rovers).