Paulton Rovers Res 8 Evercreech Rovers Res 1

Paulton Reserves showed quality on the ball and great teamwork to beat a hardworking Evercreech team.

However, things began badly for Paulton. In just the second minute, Terry Baker ran through unchallenged to slide the ball past Will Smith in the home goal to put Evercreech one up.

But Paulton asserted themselves to gradually gain control of the game. Marauding runs by Josh Ayres and Louis Norman created chances, while Lewis Harrison’s crosses were dangerous.

In the fifteenth minute Paulton equalised as Harrison Newman struck a free kick from 25 yards which almost took the ‘Creech goalie, Ben Rivers, into the net.

Another fine run by Ayres resulted in Jack Seymour being upended as he was about to shoot. Tyler Lane thumped the penalty to give Paulton the lead. Evercreech were defending desperately and Paulton racked up the chances, hitting the bar and forcing Rivers into further saves. Just before half-time, Lane rammed home his second penalty after Seymour was fouled again, to make it 3–1.

Paulton overwhelmed Evercreech in the first twenty minutes of the second half and first Lane completed his hat-trick before Harrison and Seymour added smart finishes to take the score to 6–1.

A fine passing move led to Newman scoring the goal of the game in the 63rd minute, putting Paulton 7–1 up. Lane rounded off the scoring, finishing clinically after a mistake by an Evercreech defender.

Evercreech battled hard and deserve credit. They were only denied a further goal at the end by a stunning triple save from Smith

Paulton Man of the Match: Lewis Dowling – real skill at times giving his team space and momentum.

Noel Avis