PAULTON ROVERS 1 MELKSHAM TOWN 3

Melksham deservedly took the points after they had the better of the early exchanges, with Phil Omerod hitting the side netting and Luke Ballinger squaring for Jack Ball to blast over.

Paulton’s first meaningful shot on target gave them a fourteenth minute lead, as Joe Hillard interchanged with Marcus Day, running on to hit low past Jamie Bartlett.

The visitors levelled on the half hour, as Will Christopher played in Ball, who turned his marker to slot home. Ballinger then had a great chance, sliding the ball across the goal, and shot wide.

Melksham came out all guns blazing in the second half, and after Ball had a goal ruled out, they made it 2–1 on 48 minutes as Aiden Chainey hit a superb strike past Perry.

Ball missed a great chance, firing right across goal, then Matt Hurley struck a fierce shot which hit the crossbar after Chainey had a shot pushed away by Perry.

Rovers were having some difficulty stringing passes together and were thankful to Perry, who saved them from Ballinger. On 86 minutes, a quick throw-in saw Ball flick onto Omerod, who drove it home to seal the win.

Tony Walsh