PAULTON ROVERS 3 MONEYFIELDS 2

PAULTON ROVERS RES 6 CHILCOMPTON SPORTS RES 4

Paulton edged a tough-tackling Moneyfields team on a hot afternoon, whilst the Reserves triumphed over Chilcompton Sports Res in the Paulton Hospital Cup.

Moneyfields had one penalty appeal turned down when Lamin Jetta was tripped by Rovers defender, Craig Allan. From the resulting penalty, Steve Hitchings converted.

Rovers missed chances through Joe Hillard and Ed Butcher, and in the 17th minute, good work by Ali Sen teed up Butcher, who fired wide. The visitors then had a spell in control as Paulton defended too deep. Sen had a shot saved by keeper, Jake Hallett, and then had a goal disallowed for offside.

As half-time approached, Ben Bament, fired high and wide, despite better options on either flank. Then, at the other end, Rovers’ stopper, Joe Perry, pulled off a neat save from Ryan Penney.

The early part of the second half was scrappy, with Paulton make several tactical changes including Butcher now operating on the left. He levelled in the 65th minute with a low cross-shot, after Ben Withey wrestled the ball from three defenders to lay the ball wide to Butcher.

Rovers went ahead two minutes later as Butcher was brought down and Bament struck a fierce penalty past Hallett. Bament then hit the crossbar after he beat the offside trap and was proving a thorn in the visitors defence.

Cam Shorney began to run the midfield, and created a number of further chances for Bament and Butcher, one of which he fired in from 25 yards with a slight deflection to nestle in the top corner to make it 3-1 on 80 minutes.

Subs Ryan Gay and Jake Sloggett both tested Hallett as Rovers sought a fourth goal, but it was Moneyfields who grabbed a consolation goal with a long-distance snap-shot that Perry got a hand to to make it 3-2 to Paulton.

A dominant first half performance by Paulton Reserves started with two quick goals before Chilcompton hit back in the second half.

On three minutes, Justin Dowling laid the ball into the path of Lewis Harrrison to open the scoring. Three minutes later, Aaron Whittock latched onto a mistake by ‘Chili’ keeper, Reagan Watkins, to make it 2-0.

A smooth move down the right saw Chili pull a goal back as Jake Ingram broke down the right to cross for Alec Shaw to slot home. Rovers restored a two-goal lead on twenty minutes as right back, Antony Dando, took a free-kick on the right which flew into the net with a slight deflection.

After a spell when Chili looked to up their game, Rovers’ counter-attacked as Whittock broke to square for Harrison, making it 4-1.

A minute from half-time, Paulton made it five after the best move of the game, as Dowling, Whittock and Harrison combined, finding Pete James down the right and his low cross was hammered home by Connor Farr.

Within minutes of the restart, Chili hit two quick goals through Ingram then Harry Jones. Worse was to follow, as Ingram reduced the arrears to make it 5-4 with fifteen minutes to play.

Rovers reorganised and defensively tightened up. In added time, substitute, Dave Hall, played in Adam Tovey, who raced on to complete the scoring.

Next Saturday, the First Team are at Larkhall Athletic; kick-off 3 p.m. The Reserves are home to Shepton Mallet Reserves; kick-off 2 p.m.

The Youth Team are away to Corsham Town on Thursday, 19th September; kick-off 7.30 p.m., then on Thursday, 26th September they are at home to Frome Town; kick-off 7.30 p.m.

Malcolm Tucker