PAULTON Rovers missed out on a chance of stepping up the pressure at the top of the Premier Division in the Jewson Western League when they lost 2-0 away to Barnstaple Town.

With the rain coming down, the opening ten minutes of the game saw both sides trying to come to terms with the slippery pitch. Several players slipped when in promising positions leading to a scrappy start to the game.

Howeveer, Rovers slowly started to get the better of possession and the first big chance came their way when Kitan Jaiyeoba held off a challenge to feed Kye Simpson. He turned his man to get a low shot in from close range but somehow Michael Searle, the Barum keeper, kept it out.

A decent period of possession followed for the visitors but they were unable to fashion another decent chance. Barnstaple then started to take control themselves but also didn’t really threaten Alfie Kelsey. That is until the 36th minute when a ball over the top found Gabriel Rogers, who moved into the box and clinically beat Kelsey.

The lead was almost doubled towards the end of the half when a header from a corner came back off the crossbar.

Rovers needed a good start to the second half and nearly got one when Kye Simpson found himself in space in the 49th minute but his powerful shot was blocked.

In the following melee there was a good shout for handball in the box by a Barnstaple defender but any claims were dismissed.

Both teams made changes and Rovers continued to press but without creating any clear cut chances. At the other end, Barnstaple went close with a header from a cross by Rogers but it took until the 83rd minute to get their second. A hotly disputed corner allowed Adam Hill to power in a header.

Jon Green