The Bank Holiday crowd at Winterfield Road who came expecting a goal bonanza were disappointed as Paulton Rovers and local rivals, Larkhall Athletic, played out a goalless draw.

Paulton started brightly and the Larks goalkeeper, Chris Humphries, was forced to turn an early Ed Butcher shot away for a corner. Humphries needed to make further saves from Jake Sloggett and Butcher again as Paulton made all the early running.

However, play soon went to the other end and a fierce shot from Alex Lambert required a sharp save from Aaron Sainsbury.

Larkhall’s forwards, Lewis Powell, Matt Simons and Sam Crumb were causing problems with their strong running, but Paulton’s defensive movement caught them offside a number of times, albeit with one or two close calls. On the left, Lambert had a dangerous cross headed out of play by Nuno Felix, and the Away team began to gain some control. From an Alfie Clarke corner, Larkhall defender, Mike Baker, wanted a penalty, but the referee waved the claim away.

After Paulton’s Butcher was fouled, Dave O’Hare fed the free kick to Dan Cottle who shot wide. Good work from Sloggett gave Butcher a chance, but his cross shot flew wide.

At the other end Tom Fry fired over the bar for Larkhall following skilful play by Powell. Crumb first had a shot saved by Sainsbury and then a goal disallowed for offside.

Following fine play from Cottle and Leighton Thomas, Butcher forced a great save from Humphries, but could only fire the rebound into the side netting.

Both Managers changed their teams to try to break the deadlock, but further crosses and corners all came to nothing. Thomas headed against the bar, and Cottle, with substitutes, Lee Ibrahim and sixteen-year-old Harley Prior working hard, was beginning to have an influence on the game.

Well done to Referee Graham Pearce and his Assistants. Paulton Man of the Match: Dan Cottle – the player most likely to create something.

Report by Noel Avis