The fact that Parkway goalkeeper Kyle Moore hardly had a save to make tells the story of this match. The game was a tense and sometimes bitter encounter which lacked much free flowing football.

The tone was set early on when Paulton’s Kyle Anderson was harshly booked for an innocuous challenge on Plymouth’s Tom Bath. From then on the game was evenly balanced – Parkway’s Callum Hall went close while Jack Ball had a shot deflected away for Paulton.

Plymouth’s more intricate midfield play slowly gave them the ascendancy. Jack Crago and Hall set up Bath for two shots, one saved by Aaron Sainsbury, the other hitting the side netting. But Paulton fashioned opportunities too and an excellent run by Ball resulted in Ed Butcher having his shot saved by Moore.

Paulton’s defence too were largely in control of Parkway’s dangerous forwards. Barnaby Soady was impressive at left back, while Neil Martin, James Byrne and Anderson were strong and assured, but found themselves under increasing pressure.

Shots by Jack Crago and fine set piece deliveries from Ryan Lane served as warnings for Rovers, whose long forward passes out of defence were easily dealt with by Parkway. Too often Ball and Will Harvey were caught offside by Parkway’s well drilled defence.

After 41 minutes, Lane delivered a fine free kick which was headed in at the near post by Matt Andrew to give Plymouth a 1–0 lead. The first half ended as Crago went unpunished for a late challenge on Sainsbury.

The second half saw Paulton more on the front foot. In the 53rd minute, Liban Ibrahim did well to win the ball in midfield, setting up Butcher for a terrific run down the left. His cross was turned in at the far post by Harvey to level the scores.

But it took the Devon team only five more minutes to restore their lead as Andrew again benefitted from smart play by Hall and Crago, to fire a low shot past Sainsbury’s right and into the net.

Clear chances were at a premium from then on, but one fierce strike by Michael Landricombe rebounded to the halfway line from Sainsbury’s left hand post, while some great hold up play from Jack Ball gave Harvey a chance which he could only fire into the side netting.

Play became scrappy and littered with stoppages. Several bookings were made and Anderson received his marching orders for a seemingly unjustified second yellow card. Manager John Rendell adjusted the team by bringing on Under-18 England International, Joe Paradise and Harley Prior and withdrawing Ed Butcher and David O’Hare.

But with only ten players, Rovers’ chances of changing the scoreline were reduced. Despite Ibrahim and George Fowler battling well in midfield, no clear chances were created and Plymouth’s goalie remained untested.

Paulton’s players and staff became more and more aggrieved by Moore’s delaying tactics in the Parkway goal as well as some strange decisions by the referee. In the final seconds, Neil Martin was tripped in the Plymouth area for what seemed a certain penalty for Rovers. Yet the official waved away the appeal and blew the final whistle. What had been an unattractive match became quite ugly as players and staff confronted each other and supporters expressed their anger.

Paulton Player of the Match: Aaron Sainsbury – 100 games and assured as ever between the sticks.

Fixtures this week: First Team are Away on Saturday, 29th January at Evesham United, kick-off at 3 pm.

Reserves are Home to Cam Valley Res, kick-off at 2 pm.

All Ladies games kick-off at 2 pm.

Noel Avis