This largely lacklustre game came to light on 90 minutes, when Bristol City U23’s keeper, AJ Sesay, on loan to Paulton Rovers, rose to head home Dale Evans’ left-wing corner to grab an equaliser they ill deserved.
Paulton put pressure on Cirencester early on, with Liam Monelle prominent down the right as he tested Cirencester stopper, Mateusz Wielzorek.
The keeper was again on-hand to stop Jack Ball. Ciren went ahead on twenty minutes, as Josh Morgan-Williams’ misplaced pass was intercepted by Aidan Bennett, who played in Ben Whitehead. His shot saw Sesay get a hand but could not stop the ball hitting the back of the net.
Tommy Anderson nearly increased the lead, but his shot narrowly passed the post. With a similar run, Dave Sims could have levelled his drive held by Wielzorek.
The Centurions should have added to the score after the break, as Bennett and Henry Spalding both had chances.
Rovers pulled a goal back on 62 minutes, as Josh Cann crossed for Morgan-Williams to clip across the box, which was turned into his own goal by the unfortunate Jordan Stoddart.
The visitors made it 2-1 on 67 minutes, as Jack Horrell’s ball found Whitehead, who rode a tackle to score. Rovers could not get the game flowing, and the referee showed a flurry of yellow cards.
It looked as if Cirencester would take the spoils and the £4,000 prize money back to Gloucestershire, but Sesay then raced from his goal area and rose to head the ball home, and that’s what cup games are made of. Paulton’s leveller means a replay match, something that did not look on the cards.
Star man of the match: AJ Sesay, Paulton Rovers.
Tony Walsh