MANGOTSFIELD UTD 3 PAULTON ROVERS 1

Dan Demkiv was first off the mark, with a chance inside the first minute, but he flicked the ball wide of goal from a left-wing cross, having evaded his marker.

Three minutes later, however, the Mangos were ahead through Robbie Cox, who fired a low 25-yard drive into the bottom left-hand corner, past the outstretched fingers of Paulton keeper, Joe Perry. It was his first goal for the club.

Paulton’s first effort came on seven minutes, when Marko Radovanovic did well to save a shot from Ben Withey. The visitors’ dangerous winger, Ed Butcher, then set up what seemed like a Paulton equaliser on eight minutes, but the goal was disallowed for offside.

The hosts kept coming forward though, and Dan Demkiv volleyed over from ten yards and then James Ollis’s twenty-yard shot hit the bar on eighteen minutes. Paulton came back strongly, and Marko Radovanovic was forced to make a superb point-blank save on 22 minutes as a close-range Paulton strike looked goal-bound.

At the other end, Jordan Rogers went close with a 25 yarder just over the bar on 25 minutes, but the Mangos missed a great chance to go 2–0 up just seven minutes later, when James Ollis chased a through ball and after Joe Perry in the Paulton goal had mis-kicked, Ollis saw his shot go wide of the empty goal.

Mangos’ Ben Brooks and the lively Tom Llewellyn combined well, only for the latter’s shot to go just wide of goal. The second goal finally came, however, on 38 minutes, with Jordan Rogers netting his first for the club, from ten yards following a neat team move. The hosts could have gone further ahead just before the break, but Joe Perry did well to save a good effort from James Ollis.

The first minute of the second half saw a Paulton player challenged on the edge of the box, but the referee turned down any penalty appeals and ended up lecturing the visitors’ Manager, John Rendell, instead. One minute later and Dan Demkiv was away down the left on a lengthy run, but his shot was tipped away for a corner. The visitors then came more into the game for a while, but created no chances of note, apart from a Ben Bament strike that went wide, as the home defence stood firm.

The Mangos, however, then went 3–0 up on 69 minutes, thanks to a low strike from Ben Brooks on the right-hand side of goal. Game over? Not quite, because just three minutes later, substitute, Elliott Dugan, chased a through ball and lobbed it over home keeper, Marko Radovanovic, to make it 3–1 and perhaps start off a late fight-back.

That scenario looked even more likely when Paulton were awarded a penalty on 82 minutes, but Marko Radovanovic saved Ben Bament’s spot kick and any hopes of a late fight-back by the visitors evaporated. The hosts stood firm to record a comfortable and deserved win.

Paulton Rovers are set to take on more sides, now the New Year is in play. The First team will be playing at home on Saturday, 11th January against Evesham United in the Bet Victor Southern League, Division One. Kick-off will be at 3 p.m.

The Reserves won 3–1 at home to Chilcompton United.

Saturday, 11th January will see the team Away to Somer Valley Sports Reserves at Somervale School. Kick-off is at 2 p.m.

Dave Smale and Tony Walsh