A superb performance from Paulton saw them overcome Cirencester on the newly-laid 3G pitch at the Corinium Stadium, in the Buildbase FA Cup First Qualifying Round replay. Rovers will now face Shortwood United at home on Saturday, 11th November.

It was a complete reversal from the previous Saturday, when Rovers grabbed a fortunate equaliser in added-time, thanks to keeper, AJ Sesay.

Paulton boss, John Rendell, had to make a number of enforced changes, with Club Captain, Josh Ford, and his centre back partner both out injured, Mario Mateus

unavailable, and Dale Evans suspended. Joe Guest took the Captain’s armband, James Byrne moved inside to partner him in midfield, and teenage centre-backs, Joe Hillard and Sam Hedges, came along with Tyronne Tucker-Dixon on the left wing.

Rovers attacked from the off, going ahead as Josh Morgan-Williams fired a fierce low shot, which Keeper, Scott Rose, spilled, and Striker, Jack Ball, was first to react to shoot home.

Cirencester were on the attack, with Jack Horrell and Henry Spalding testing Sesay. On seventeen minutes they should have levelled, as Aiden Bennett crossed for Tommy Anderson to head wide.

Five minutes later, Paulton thought they had a second, as a thunderous shot by Morgan-Williams was parried by Rose and the alert Ball turned the ball home. He was flagged offside, but later video evidence shows he was onside at the time of the original shot.

Two minutes later, there was no doubt. After a good build-up, Liam Monelle drove on, and was fouled. From 25 yards out, Morgan-Williams hit a great, low firm-shot into the corner of the net.

Bennett nearly pulled one back, as he turned and hit a dipping shot, which was deflected by Hedges for a corner. Tucker-Dixon raced on to a through-ball from Byrne, but Rose was alert to smother the danger, as Rovers looked to increase their lead at the start of the second half.

Paulton full-backs, Camen Harvey and Josh Cann, were raiding up and down the wing, and set up chances for Monelle, Ball and Tucker-Dixon. However, the Centurions saw a Ben Whitehead shot hit the inside of the post, and his goal-bound shot was tipped over by Sesay.

On 61 minutes, Morgan-Williams controlled the ball well from Byrne’s pass. He created space, and from outside the penalty area made it 3–0. Centurions’ defender, Jordan Stoddart, committed two bad fouls on Monelle in the space of five minutes. The first went unpunished; the second warranted a yellow card.

Cirencester’s attack was defused by Rovers’ young defenders, and many attackers came as they broke up any moves by the home side to reduce the arrears.

With time running out, substitute, Dave Sims, rounded his full-back down the right for Byrne to score from in front of the net. A 4–0 win and well deserved by Paulton.

Tony Walsh