PAULTON Rovers gained a valuable point in a 2-2 draw in Division One South of the Southern League at Tiverton in mid-week, coming from behind to a highly controversial penalty which had given the hosts the lead, writes Jon Green. Buoyed by the previous Saturday’s first league victory of the season, Rovers travelled to Tiverton looking to build on that result. Typically, not an easy place to go, Tiverton had been on a poor run of form of late and so the visitors should have been confident of a result. However, it was the hosts that came out of the blocks quickest. They seemed sharper and were piling the pressure on the Rovers goal from the start. They were unlucky not to take the lead in the 16th minute when a well struck shot was deflected wide. Rovers were struggling to get out of their own half for any period of time so it was somewhat against the run of play that Tom Symons made space on the right and delivered a cross that found Dylan Gould near the penalty spot. He had a lot to do but one touch and swivel set the ball for him to lash home and put the visitors ahead.

It was only four minutes later that Tiverton equalised though. Joshua Bissett was allowed to run clear through and pull the ball back to Aaron Wellington. His shot was deflected but Owen Howe was lurking to fire in the deflected ball. Few Rovers supporters would have suggested they hadn’t deserved a goal on the strength of the play so far. As the half ended, another rocket of a shot from Tiverton just skimmed the crossbar. Despite being level, Rovers needed to up their game in the second half. And they did. It was a very different half to the first. This time it was Rovers doing the pushing and they kept Tiverton in their half for long periods but did struggle to create many shots at goal.

The controversial moment came in the 64th minute when Billy Tucker was sent clear for Tiverton. There was a whiff of offside but nothing given and he made it to the box. Archie Matthews rushed from his goal and dived at Tucker’s feet. The trajectory of the ball suggested he got his hands to it and pushed it away but the referee gave a penalty which was dispatched by Finn Roberts. The goal seemed to take the wind out of Rovers for a short time and they were lucky not to be further behind when Owen Howe got clear and seemed destined to score. But Archie Matthews pulled off a great save to push the ball onto the post to keep Rovers in the match. Rovers got their steam back though and started to pressure the Tiverton goal again and it seemed increasingly likely an equaliser would come. And it did in the 90th minute. Substitute, Leighton Tuodolo, sent Brandon Bak clear and he held off a couple of challenges to fire into the bottom corner.

Rovers certainly deserved their point and possibly more as they left a wet Tiverton Town with a share of the spoils. However, it was an encouraging display by Paulton on a miserable night.