Paulton came away with a comprehensive and deserved win denting AFC Totton’s play-off hopes, and continuing Rovers unbeaten start to 2018.

Andy Hannah returning after suspension in the visitors’ goal dealt with early ‘Stags’ pressure, before Josh Morgan-Williams had a shot deflected and Dale Evans’ free-kick found Joe Chandler, whose header was palmed away by Totton keeper Shane Murphy.

Hannah was again called upon to tip over a free-kick from Jack Masterton, as Rovers responded on twenty minutes as Omar Simpson broke through the home defence and found striker Jack Ball, whose shot hit the Totton post.

Two minutes later, Totton were awarded a penalty as Tony Lee bore down and attempted to chip over Hannah, who stood his ground, colliding with the midfielder. However, Hannah was down quickly to his left to save the resultant penalty, taken by Matt Bozier.

That lead to a period of sustained Paulton pressure, and they took the lead after 34 minutes as ball cut in from the left and wing-back Josh Cann was on hand at the near post to turn the ball into the net.

The referee was doling out yellow cards to both sides for fairly innocuous offences to the ire of the crowdn and in added time, Paulton made it 2-0 as Morgan-Williams danced through the Totton rear-guard, passing a slightly lucky deflected ball to Ball, who hammered his shot low past Murphy.

Totton were thwarted by Rovers’ defence, with Joe Chandler, Kyle Knott and captain Josh Ford putting in stellar performances, giving the normally deadly attack of Craig Feeney and Alfy Whittingham little room to create chances.

It was Paulton who set up the better chances, with Liam Monelle twice finding Morgan-Williams, bringing fine saves from Murphy. However, on seventy minutes, Hannah saved from sub Tobi Adekundle, then Masterton, and as Rovers broke Simpson and Morgan-Williams combined down the right, the ball was cleared to Rovers central midfielder Dale Evans a full 35 yards from goal. He hit a spectacular thunderbolt of a volley, hitting the underside of the bar and beating Murphy all ends up to make it 3-0.

Late on, sub Nat Sherborne fired wide for ‘The Stags’, and Feeney had a goal disallowed for offside, as a delighted Paulton manager John Rendell congratulated his troops on a fine win.

Rovers move up to fifteenth-place with 26 points, and face sixth-placed Evesham United on Saturday, 13th January.

Tony Walsh