Bishop’s Cleeve arrived at Winterfield Road with the second worst defensive record in this league. But they began the game on the front foot and took an immediate third minute lead as Harrison Reeves, moving in from the left, collected a pass from captain Archie Haskayne, and struck the ball past Aaron Sainsbury in the home goal.

Paulton Rovers 2 Bishop’s Cleeve 4

Paulton, possibly jaded from the midweek trip to Sholing, found it difficult to get going. Cleeve on the other hand were moving the ball neatly and posing problems for captain Neil Martin and his defence. Sainsbury had to save smartly from George Box and then produced a fantastic close range stop from Ross Langworthy.

But Rovers rallied - Ed Butcher’s pace on the left and Dan McBeam’s trickery on the right helped them exert some pressure. In the twentieth minute, Butcher, constantly fouled, had a free kick headed sharply downward by Jack Dancey, but the chance came to nothing. This was a good spell for Rovers, but the Mitres’ defence stood firm.

Sainsbury made another great save from Haskayne, following good work by playmaker Reeves. The first half ended with Cleeve on top, having wrestled back the initiative with their more composed play and benefitting from the vociferous support from their green hatted coaching staff.

The two changes that Paulton made at the start of the second half paid immediate dividends. New signing Brandon Bak took advantage of a loose ball to fire past Lewis Clayton in the Cleeve goal to equalise. But their joy was short lived as Reeves again, this time receiving a pass from Isaac Pearce, strode unchallenged through the home defence to strike the ball past Sainsbury to restore their lead.

Again, Rovers came to life and equalised for a second time. In the sixty fourth minute, Butcher forced a corner on the left. From it, Dancey headed the ball strongly towards goal and Clayton could only help it into the net.

A good spell for Rovers followed, but Joe Morgan shot high and wide from a good position. Then in the sixty eighth minute, Sainsbury inexplicably and uncharacteristically spilled a seemingly harmless cross from the left, and Langworthy was on hand to force the ball home to give the Mitres a 3-2 lead.

Paulton created some chances as Dan Dempsey and Nuno Felix joined the attack, but Dancey put his header just wide, while Butcher and Will Hailston made good runs forward which came to nothing. Then Rovers had a lucky escape as a poor back pass was intercepted.

In the eighty sixth minute, fine interplay across the whole pitch ended with Haskayne’s shot from twenty yards beating Sainsbury to give Bishop’s Cleeve a deserved 2–4 victory. There was a marked contrast between Rovers long ball tactics and Cleeve’s neat passing style. Paulton largely failed to deal with the Mitres close pattern of play, their determination and support for each other.

The Rovers faithful wandered home, chilled from the weather and the result, but hopeful of an improved performance against Melksham next Saturday.

Paulton man of the match: Neil Martin – a never say die attitude.