BRANDON Bak snapped up a hat-trick as Paulton Rovers fought back twice from being behind against Portland to draw 3-3 at home in mid-week in Division One South of the Southern League, writes Jon Green.

Rovers needed a response following the previous Saturday’s poor performance but they were almost one down in the first moments of the game. In true schoolboy football style the ball seemed to get bogged down in the Rovers box with legs flying everywhere!

A couple of corners were forced and it seemed like an age before the ball could be cleared and Rovers could get some time on the ball.

Eventually, both teams began to knock the ball around. New signing Cameron Allen won himself a freekick on the edge of the box in the 9th minute. He took it himself and whistled the ball just past the post.

Rovers continued to press but the ball wouldn’t drop kindly. However, there were still some basic errors being made. The visitors took the lead when a careless freekick was given away on the right. The ball was swung in and scrambled into the net by Samuel Gadsby.

Rovers looked dazed as they feared that another loss was incoming. Fears that were made even worse four minutes later when Joshua Williams struck a sweet shot from distance.

Two down, and confidence lacking, things could have got even worse but it took just four minutes to pull one back. Martin Lenihan swung in a cross that was defended away but only to Chris Peck who picked out Brandon Bak who lashed the ball into the net.

Rovers confidence suddenly grew and they started to look to get forward quicker. As the half closed, Cam Allen swung in a perfect cross for Bak who rose and headed back across goal and in for the equaliser.

The hosts came out with purpose in the second half and were nearly ahead when captain Martin Lenihan hit a shot from outside the box that went just wide.

But another careless foul let Portland back in. The free kick from deep picked out Callum Corbridge who seemed to be unchallenged as he headed in.

Rovers had it all to do again and were helped when Jack Delves was sent off in the 71st minute for his second yellow card. The tails were up again and they were soon level when Lenihan swung in a cross and Bak headed in to complete his hattrick!

The game was now there for the taking and the ball spent most of its time coming at the Portland goal. Chances came for Lenihan and Bak again before a number of substitutions were made.

However, the effect of the changes seemed to curtail the Rovers pressure and Portland held out. It was a game that showed plenty of positives but still some frustrating issues that need solving!

Despite collecting their second point of the season from five games, Rovers stayed second from bottom in the table.

In another match played on the night, Willand Rovers moved up to fifth spot after gaining a 3-1 home win over Westbury United who would themselves have been in such a position if they had won.

Hungerford Town won their first away match of the season when they beat Larkhall Athletic 2-1.