BLACKFIELD LANGLEY 0 PAULTON ROVERS 0
A solid display by Paulton, which nearly grabbed them more than the deserved point.
Mitch Tippins hit an early free-kick over the bar before Blackfield had a period of pressure well-defended by Rovers’ defenders.
Paulton had a shout for a penalty on fifteen minutes, as Jack Ball appeared to be pushed from behind by Sam Poole, with the referee non-committal. Rovers’ young keeper, Adam Forster, miss-hit a kick allowing Olly Dennett to bear down on goal, with Tippins making a last-ditch tackle.
Paulton then had four consecutive corners, with Ball flicking on and a home defender deflecting onto the crossbar. The Watersiders’ last action of the half saw Dennett set up Fatah Makhloufi, who blasted over.
Five minutes after the restart, Rovers’ Captain centre-half received a bad kick to the face and was carried off, requiring stitches, and replaced by Trey Anderson.
Charlie Hitchings, Tippins, Joe Hillard and Anderson formed an impressive back four, clearing Adam Tomasso’s header, then Liam Robinson’s free-kick.
Monelle found Jay Malpas to send Ball goalwards, only to be fouled on the edge of the box, and Ben Withey’s free-kick was well held by the home keeper, Lewis Noice.
Dennett saw his shot blocked by Hitchings, and in time added on, Rovers piled on the pressure with shots from Monelle, Malpas, Withey and Sam Jordan having consecutive shots blocked.
Star Man of the Match: Charlie Hitchings, Paulton Rovers.
Tony Walsh