This match will be remembered for one reason and one reason only, namely, the one point Rovers gained from this disappointing, goalless draw was sufficient to ensure their play-off position.
Whilst their visitors enjoyed more of the possession, it was the hosts who had the better, albeit too few, chances to win a match dominated by the defences. The first of these arrived in the opening minute when good work from Nick McCootie set up Brandon Barnes down the left channel, but his shot across goal was well saved by Craig Griffiths, the Town keeper. The visitors then enjoyed a good spell and on seven minutes, their Skipper, Alex Stanley, sent in a free kick from the left that Mike Reaney did well to head clear, but it fell to Michael McKirnan, just outside the box, who volleyed straight into the arms of keeper, Kyle Phillips.
The closest either side came to breaking the deadlock all game arrived in the eighteenth minute. Barnes took a corner from the right, which was headed clear by the Town defence, only for the ball to be played wide to Barnes again and his cross to the far post saw Marcus Mapstone head the ball down, where Griffiths dived low to his right to turn the ball around the post for a corner. Barnes went across to take it and Joe Bushin just failed to get his powerful header on target.
It wasn't until the 34th minute that another chance worthy of the name was created as McCootie and Bushin combined down the right and the former crossed for Barnes, whose shot was blocked with the rebound falling to Craig Loxton who fired over the bar.
The second half began much as the first had ended, with neither side seeming able to create anything, but then on 55 minutes, McCootie did superbly to twist and turn to make space on the left byline, but a cross to the far post was just too high for Bushin. Rovers had another opportunity three minutes later, but a sweeping move involving Bushin and Loxton saw the latter pick out Barnes with a crossfield pass from the right, but the ball bobbled on the hard surface and the shot went well wide of the target.
Rovers then had a let-off as Joel Meade went on a superb run from midfield, but having seemingly done all the hard work, he sent his shot straight at Phillips. Town continued to press and Stanley did well to send over a cross from the left, which fell to substitute, Ryan Taplin, but he sent his drive over the bar. Phillips was the busier keeper at this stage, but then, on 79 minutes, a Rovers break saw Griffiths in action again, saving a Barnes effort from a narrow angle after good work from Loxton.
It was the visitors who looked the most likely to sneak a victory in the closing exchanges as, twice, Stanley sent in free kicks that were won in the air by first, Elliot Osbourne-Ricketts, and then, Luke Carnell, but both sent their headers too close to Phillips, who saved them comfortably.
There was relief all around Winterfield Road when the final whistle went and Rovers' play-off position was confirmed, but they will undoubtedly need to carry more of a goal threat in the games to come if promotion is to be realised.
Team: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Tovey, Mike Reaney, Marcus Mapstone, Stuart Pearson, Brandon Barnes (Steve Bridges 87 mins), Craig Loxton, Ben Lacey (Josh Jeffries 60 mins), Joe Bushin (James Billing 67 mins), Dan Cleverley (C), Nick McCootie. Subs not used: Scott Brice, James Vincent.
Paulton look certain to finish no higher than fifth. This means they will be away to the team finishing second and away again should they make the play-off final. Following last weekend's games, Hungerford are in second place with eighty-four points and this Saturday play their final game away at Cinderford Town. In third, Merythr Town, with seventy-nine points, were at Abingdon United on Tuesday and complete their fixtures at Yate Town this weekend. Swindon Supermarine hold fourth spot on seventy-eight points, with three games left, away at Poole Town on Tuesday and then home to the league champions this Thursday, 25th April, before winding things up at home to Clevedon Town. One hiccup for the play-off semi final is that all three possible opponents play home matches on different nights – Hungerford (Monday), Merthyr (Tuesday) and Supermarine (Wednesday), but matches will be played next week beginning 29th April with the final on Bank Holiday Monday, 6th May.
This Saturday, Paulton travel to bottom side, Winchester City. Bunyard may decide to rest a number of his players and give one or two opportunities to Youth Team players. Paulton will not know their opponents in the Somerset Premier Cup Final until after Tuesday, 30th April when the semi-final between Bridgwater Town and Taunton Town takes place. The Youth Team play their final match of the season next Thursday, 2nd May at Odd Town, kick-off at 7.45 p.m., after finishing a commendable fifth in the Somerset Floodlit Youth League. The Sunday XI lost 6–2 at Ston Easton last week and this Sunday are away at Norton Hil School to the Greyhound Athletic, kick-off at 10.30 a.m.