Paulton beat Chippenham Town on a boggy Boxing Day pitch at Winterfield Road. Jon Davies was available for the first time in three weeks and there was a debut for new striker, Mitchell Page, but Ben Lacey failed a fitness test as Rovers sought to move up the Southern League Premier table.
It was Davies who hit a first minute shot held by
Chippenham keeper, Kent Kauppinen, whilst Alex Ferguson responded for the visitors wide of the target. Former Paulton player, Luke Ballinger's speedy runs down the right wingprovided an interesting test for his former teammate, Teale, at left back. On sixteen minutes, he created a move, finding James Guthrie, only to be thwarted by Rovers' Skipper, Scott Brice, for a corner. Phillips held soundly under pressure from
ex-Swindon Town striker, Ashan Holgate.
A minute later and Paulton took the lead when Davies jinked down the left, cut inside and squeezed the ball in the net past Kauppinen's near post. Barnes had a chance a minute earlier, when his curling shot was superbly saved by Kent Kauppinen. This saw a period of sustained Paulton pressure and on 57 minutes, it was 2–0. Barnes was found by Wilson and had his feet unceremoniously taken from under him by Matt Coupe and Wilson converted the resultant penalty.
'The Bluebirds pulled one back two minutes later. Now it was the visitors in the ascendancy and former Bath City player, Lee Phillips, on as substitute, had a goal disallowed on 72 minutes. Wilson should have made it three, racing in and narrowly missed the far post. Barnes brought yet another great save from the Chippenham stopper and in the final minute, Man of the Match, Davies, hit the foot of the post as Rovers ran out worthy winners.