Paulton had the majority of play, but lacked the scoring touch and lost to a Histon side who took their chances in last Saturday’s match.
Rovers Captain, Darren Mullings, floated in a free kick for Joe Chandler to head over the bar. Histon winger, Christian Owusu, robbed Steve Williams and crossed into Paulton stopper, Ben John’s hands.
Mario Mateus got on the end of Leon Jeanne’s cross and then on to Williams, which was headed wide by Nuno Felix as the home side looked for that elusive goal.
Mateus drove straight at Aaron Chapman and the visiting keeper watched the same player blast a volley over the ball.
Against the run of play, Histon scored as Sam Ling rode three tackles to slot the ball home.
Paulton came out with determination as Jeanne crossed and Josh Read rattled the bar. Their best move involved Jeanne and substitute, Dave O’Hare, whose pass saw Mateus caught offside.
On sixty-five minutes, Owusu grabbed a second as he cut in and slipped the ball past John.
Ricketts won the ball in midfield and laid to Mateus who fired over.
In injury time, Craig Allan slipped and Josh Oyinson saw his shot blocked by John, with the ball falling to substitute, Matty Allen, who surprisingly shot wide with the goal at his mercy.
Man of the Match: Mario Mateus (Paulton Rovers).
Paulton Rovers’ Sunday team beat Tramways 5–1 last weekend.
They opened the scoring after eleven minutes through Connor Farr, with Josh Johnson on his birthday nabbing a second after 25 minutes. It was 3–0 on 32 minutes when Dan Elms outpaced the visiting defence to score.
Tramways were awarded a penalty after player/manager Pete James was lucky not to see a red card against him after he committed a foul, but pulled a goal back shortly before half-time.
Rovers continued to dominate and pressed the visitors into conceding an own goal. Lee Hansford hit the fifth after 73 minutes to wrap up the scoring.
As The Journal went to press on Tuesday, 19th April, the Sunday side faced third-placed Walcot Wanderers at home. On Thursday, 21st April they play FC Brewhouse at home, kick-off at 6.15 p.m. They will be in action in the Tom Morgan KO Cup this Sunday, 24th April at Larkhall, kick-off at 10.15 a.m. In a flurry of fixtures, they will be back to league action with a match on Tuesday, 26th April against Walcot Wanderers, away at Colerne Recreation Ground and home on Thursday, 28th April against FC Trinity, kick-off for both games at 6.15 p.m.
The Youth Team are home on Thursday, 21st April to Radstock Town, kick-off at 7-30 p.m. and then away to Winscombe next Monday, 25th April, kick-off at 7.30 p.m. to complete their season.
The First Team, who lost 2–0 against Cambridge City on Monday this week, complete their disappointing season with a trip to play-off hopefuls, Chippenham Town, this Saturday, kick-off at 3 p.m.
Tony Walsh