PAULTON Rovers hit double figures as they hammered bottom side St Austell 11-0 at home in the Premier Division of the Jewson Western League.

Now under a new management team, the struggling Cornish set-up could have been a banana skin but, right from the off, Rovers set the tone claiming the vast majority of the possession. Kailan Gould, who was magnificent all game, set about hounding the visitors defence with several crosses in the opening minutes. Dan McBeam went close in the 7th minute when he rifled a shot of the crossbar. The first came in the 11th minute as McBeam did well to beat his man from a short corner, laying the ball into Kyle Witt to tap home from close range. Chances kept on coming but it took until the 20th minute before the lead was doubled. Following a scramble in the box, Kitan Jaiyeoba was able to pick up the ball to slot in. This was quickly followed by an own goal in the 25th minute when Kailan Gould launched in a corner with an unlucky James Baker nodding the ball into his own net. Another quick goal followed when McBeam crossed for Witt to score his second, this time with his head. Witt completed his hattrick in the 37th minute as a St Austell defender pushed the ball out to the edge of the box only to find the midfielder who placed his shot low and to the right of the goalkeeper. As half-time approached, Jaiyeoba grabbed his second after some interplay on the left by McBeam and Tom Bradley. The latter then found Jaiyeoba who cut inside before hitting his shot. The ball took a small deflection on the way confounding the keeper. There was still time in the half for Witt to get his fourth after a brilliant flicked pass from Kailan Gould found Witt clear through on goal. His initial shot was parried away by the keeper but the goal was claimed at the second attempt. A triple substitution at the beginning of the second half somewhat initially slowed the momentum but the hosts were back in the mood in the 64th minute when Martin Lenihan put in an inch perfect cross that found Dylan Tate unchallenged and able to nod the ball into with his first touch.

St Austell were unlucky not to grab a consolation goal in the 70th minute as James Smallcombe had to make a smart save from their first shot on goal of the game. This was quickly followed by another attempt from the resulting corner, but it drifted wide of the post. McBeam got his well deserved goal in the 73rd minute after another perfect pass from Kailan Gould sent the winger clear through to slot home. Gould was on hand again three minutes later when he found Elliot Haffenden clear in the box to fire home. As the game approached the final moments, Gould added to his assist total by again finding Haffenden who was able to poke the ball in. It was an emphatic win that should do wonders for the confidence as Paulton go into the busy Christmas period! There were several players that could arguably have received the Man of the Match award but with his four goals, Kyle Witt was chosen by Match Sponsor Scott Rowlands Plumbing & Heating.

Jon Green