PAULTON Rovers stepped up the pressure at the top of the Premier Division in the Jewson Western League with a 2-0 home win over Saltash United.

The first chance came for second-placed Paulton in the third minute as Wayne Nderemani cut in from the right only to see his shot blocked and held by Saltash keeper Leo McCormick.

McCormick was by far the busier keeper with Rovers Sam Jepson rarely troubled. Rovers had a great chance on 26 minutes as Dylan Gould whipped in a cross which Kyle Witt headed goal wards which McCormick turned over the crossbar.

Paulton thought they had taken the lead as Nderemani found Kitan Jaiyaboa who held off a challenge, but saw his shot hit both the crossbar and the post before going out for a goal kick.

Just before half time Rovers lost defender Tom Bradley with an ankle injury and was replaced by new signing Dylan Tate.

On the restart Witt weaved his way past two defenders only for McCormick to bravely grab the ball away from the Paulton’s man feet. That was followed on 62 minutes by an overhead kick by Kitan with the visiting stopper getting down low to stop the effort.

Rovers were on top with the 6’ 6’’ tall Tate proving a handful for the ‘Ashes’ defence. They took the lead after 74 minutes as Chris Peck nodded a cross for Tate to fire home from a tight angle giving McCormick no chance. Three minutes later it was 2-0. Kailan Gould went on a mazey run and his shot was blocked only for Joel Smedley to react the quickest to stab the ball home. Smedley had only come on as sub replacing Martin Lenihan minutes beforehand.

Rovers pressed for a third with Peck using all his experience working well with teenagers Emman Anthansiou and Alfie Kelleher.