Paulton Rovers played their final pre-season friendly, beating Conference outfit, Dorchester Town.

Manager, Nick Bunyard, and his assistant, Paul Milsom, were delighted with the 1–0 score as they finalise their starting line-up as they approach the opening league game at Godalming Town next Saturday. Rovers have enjoyed a pretty good pre-season, winning six, losing two and drawing one.

Paulton started brightly and dominated the early play, despite a scare when Skipper, Dan Cleverley, was injured in an over-the-top tackle, but recovered quickly, just in time to see his side score. In the fourth minute, keeper, Lewis Pierre, played the ball to Nick McCootie on the halfway line and he accelerated past several visiting players, played a one-two pass with left winger, Brandon Barnes, racing on to the ball to slot into the net past Town goalie, Alan Walker-Harris.

Paulton had several chances to increase the lead through McCottie whose shot was smothered by Walker-Harris and Ben Lacey had two shots on target.

For Dorchester, ex-Yeovil Town man, Nick Crittenden, was prominent with three shots on target, all comfortably held by Pierre. On the stroke of half-time, McCootie was fouled by the keeper. The resultant free kick saw Barnes hit the ball just over the crossbar.

Paulton brought on Bristol City Academy keeper, Joe Perry and the youngster's defence saw a rejuvenated Dorchester put Paulton under the cosh.

Two minutes after the restart, Ben Watson tried to chip Perry on the left which was narrowly wide. Then he amazingly blasted over a minute later with the goal at his mercy. James Beasley saw his shot go past the post and Elliott Ward's volley was wide of the mark.

Rovers regained composure and McCootie, causing all sorts of problems, nearly wriggled his way through a static 'Magpies' defence before a last ditch tackle by Captain, Charlie Clough, stopped him in his tracks.

Crittenden kept trying long-range efforts, but young Perry was clearly growing in confidence, saving well on each occasion.

Rovers substitutes, Joe Vyner and James Billing, having replaced Harris and McCootie, linked up twice to give each other a chance to test Dorchester's first-choice keeper, Tim Sandercock.

Despite later pressure from Town, it was Rovers who comfortably held on to win 1–0.

Bunyard was delighted by this win and felt the pre-form sets Paulton up well for, hopefully, a strong and very tough season in the Calor Southern League Division One South and West.

The match was in aid of the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Charity Foundation to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the creation of the Football Association.

The coach for Paulton Rovers' opening Calor Southern League Division One South and West match for the season at Godalming Town leaves the club at 10.30 a.m. Dean Evans and Josh Klein-Davies, who both missed the Dorchester game through injury, are hoping to have recovered to be added to the squad. First choice keeper, Kyle Phillips, is suspended for the first four games.

Next Tuesday, 20th August, Rovers host their opening home league game against Tiverton Town, kick-off is 7.30 p.m.

The Youth Team were home on Tuesday, 13th August to Interhound FC. This Sunday, 18th August they will be at home to Bristol Rovers Youth, kick-off at 2 p.m.

The final friendly of the pre-season will be next Tuesday, the opponents have yet to be finalised. Check http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/paultonrovers/for">www.pitchero.com/clubs/paultonrovers/for updates.

The Somerset Floodlit Youth League starts with a home game against Yate Town on Thursday, 5th September.

Tony Walsh