PAULTON Rovers put up a splendid fight before losing 3-2 at home to 100 per cent leaders Clevedon Town in the Premier Division of the Jewson Western League.

On a wet evening, it took a late goal to snatch the points away from Rovers. Clevedon looked strong from the opening moments of the game. They moved the ball quickly and precisely and in the tenth minute, Henry Westlake got a shot away that was straight at keeper Jakob Glover. They also had a shout for a penalty but the referee waived away the protests.

Rovers had moments in the half too, and in the 13th minute, had a clear penalty denied when Dean Griffiths was chopped down in the box. Kailan Gould, the star player in Saturday's draw with Sidmouth, was enterprising again and a good run gave him the chance to swing the ball in but the keeper plucked it out the air.

Clevedon went close again moments later, when Seb Scott's shot clipped the post. Rovers slammed the post themselves in the 24th minute when a shot by Dean Griffiths left the goal rattling.

Clevedon now took a hold of the half though and arguably took a deserved lead when Oscar Bridgman's cross from the right was headed home by Charlie Saunders in the 30th minute. The lead was doubled almost immediately when a cross was turned in by Luke Osgood.

The half played out with Clevedon looking more likely to add to their lead rather than Rovers getting back into it.

Rovers had much to do from the start of the second half. After two half time changes, Rovers immediately looked more comfortable. A corner was forced in the 49th minute and Martin Lenihan swung in a ball to the back post where Tom Bradley was waiting to out muscle his man and nod the ball down low and into the net.

It was just the start Rovers needed. Dean Griffiths went close again with a header from a Kyle Witt cross but his effort went just wide. A triple substitution followed freshening up the lineup.

Clevedon responded in the 67th minute when Charlie Saunders also headed wide. The equaliser came in the 71st minute when Elliot Haffenden broke free on the right but his shot from a tight angle was parried away but only as far as Kye Simpson who swivelled and found Joel Smedley waiting on the penalty spot to blast the ball in.

The next few minutes saw Rovers pushing to grab a winner, but this did leave them a little exposed and Clevedon had a couple of half chances denied by Jakob Glover.

Rovers had been dominating the play though but were caught by the sucker-punch in the 85th minute when a long ball over the top was collected by Callum Dunn who out paced Chris Peck and placed a perfect finish past Glover. It was a kick in teeth for the hosts who had worked so hard to get back into the game.

Things only got worse for Rovers in added time when Tom Bradley was given his second yellow card for dissent. Across the whole of the game, arguably Clevedon were the better team and it’s clear why they top the table. But looking back, there were plenty of positives for Rovers to take away from the game.

Jon Green