PAULTON Rovers kept up the pressure on leaders Clevedon Town with a 4-1 away win over Sidmouth Town in the Premier Division of the Jewson Western League.

The hosts came closest to scoring in the early minutes when a low cross from a corner was somehow missed by two players when it seems easier to score. But Rovers responded when Tom Bradley nodded a freekick from Kailan Gould just wide. Three minutes later new loanee, Elliot Dugan, crossed from the right but Kitan Jaiyeoba poked just wide at the far post.

Elliot Driver, the Sidmouth keeper, then made an exceptional double save to deny firstly Kyle Witt then Kitan again in quick succession. Rovers were patient and slowly took more and more of the possession and looked the more dangerous but did have to be mindful of Sidmouth.

The hosts broke free on more than one occasion but rarely tested Sam Jepson in the Rovers net. The breakthrough came in the 37th minute when Martin Lenihan crossed from the right with Kyle Witt nodding in at the far post. The second came just two minutes later when Kitan picked up a long ball and struck from outside the box, the ball taking a deflection.

The hosts needed to come out the blocks in the second half and they certainly started brightly finally getting creating an opening in the 55th minute with Nathan Cooper crossing to an unmarked Sam Gleeson to nod home. However, Rovers didn’t panic and extended the lead again in the 65th minute. A Kailan Gould freekick was met by the head to Tom Bradley who headed home from 12 yards out. Substitute Elliot Haffenden sealed the win in the 80th minute when he chased down Sam Jepson’s goal kick stealing the ball away from the Sidmouth keeper before rolling the ball under an outstretched defender.

Jon Green