A SUPERB first-half hat-trick by Kitan Jaiyeoba was the highlight of Paulton Rovers’ 3-0 home win in mid-week over Brislington as the home side kept up the pressure at the top of the Premier Division in the Jewson Western Football League, writes Jon Green.

‘A potential banana skin’ is a well used phrase in football and with Brislington sat near the foot of the Jewson League, the expression games even more use!

The hosts started well and grabbed the first chance in the 5th minute when Tom Bradley headed over from a corner. Brislington came into the game though and started to move the ball around quickly pressing forward with purpose.

The visitors believed they had the lead in the 9th minute when the ball was forced in after rebounding off the post. However, the linesman raised his flag for an offside in the buildup. It was a let off for Rovers who succumbed to another problem moments later when Sam Hill was forced to be replaced after picking up an injury.

Rovers could have wobbled but steadied the ship immediately after. Elliot Haffenden beat his man on the left crossing low to the near post where Dan MxBeam was waiting. His flick at the goal was stopped by the leg of the keeper but the ball rolled out to Kitan Jaiyeoba who lashed the ball in from six yards out.

It didn’t take long for the second to arrive and it will be one that the Brislington keeper will want to forget. Following a counter attack, Paulton keeper James Smallcombe launched the ball forward in an attempt to find Jaiyeoba and catch out the visitor’s defence. The Brislington keeper looked like he’d comfortably won the race to the long ball but his attempt at a clearance was sliced allowing Kitan to easily pick the ball up, move into the box and score into the open net.

In the 27th minute Will Tubbs, the Brislington keeper, made some amends after another sliced clearance, this time by a defender, was picked up by Kyle Witt and his shot was well saved by Tubbs. Another good period for Brislington followed as they let the ball well but rarely were able to penetrate the Paulton defence.

And things got worse for the visitors in the 40th minute when Ben Withy was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for dissent. Jaiyeoba secured his hattrick late in the half when a long ball out of defence was chased down by Elliot Haffenden. The keeper beat him to the ball to clear it but he only found Jaiyeoba lurking on the left hand corner of the box and the striker brilliantly curled the ball into the open net.

After securing a good lead and a man advantage, you could forgive Rovers for taking their foot off the gas for the second half. And with Brislington sitting in and making things difficult, there was very little goalmouth action in the second forty-five.

Rovers also went down to ten men in the 71st minute when Elliot Haffenden was given a straight red for a rash tackle. But the job was already complete and the final minutes were played out with only a couple more chances falling for Rovers.

Match Sponsor, Paul Channon Construction, chose Kitan Jaiyeoba as Man of the Match following his hattrick!