On a cold, wet afternoon in Swindon, Manager John Rendell made one change from Tuesday’s impressive victory at Yate, with Joe Hillard replacing Dale Evans. Hillard slotted into the right back position, whilst James Byrne was pushed forward into midfield.

Chances were few and far between in the first twenty minutes, with both sides working hard to close down the opposition. Supermarine took the lead on the 23rd minute, after Joe Selman was put through one-on-one against Rovers’ keeper, Alexis Andre, only for the loanee keeper to make a great save.

The resulting phase of play ended with Selman laying the ball off to Josh Parsons, who struck a low, right-footed shot into the bottom corner. Andre got a good hand to the shot, but not enough to keep the ball out of the net.

Two minutes later, ‘Marine were awarded what looked a dubious penalty, as Thompson appeared to be fouled outside the box, only for the referee to point to the spot. Paulton will feel justice was served, as Andre dived low down to his left to superbly save the penalty taken by Brad Hooper.

Five minutes before half-time, Paulton were in search of their own penalty, as a right-footed shot from Charlie Ten-Grotenhuis struck the hand of the ‘Marine defender in the box. On this occasion, the referee adjudged it not to be deliberate handball, and waved away the appeals. Rovers pushed on, and just two minutes later, a lovely bit of skill by ‘CTG’ in midfield saw him beat two players and then play a defence-splitting pass which Sims raced on to. As Sims bore down on goal, some last-ditch defending by ‘Marine pushed Sims wide and the chance fizzled out.

The action continued early in the second half, when ‘Marine’s Connor Thompson fired a shot straight at Andre after a clever dummy from Parsons, and then at the other end, a free header by Rovers’ Joe Chandler went over the bar.

On the 52nd minute, Paulton finally got the equaliser they deserved, when Hillard whipped in a cross from the right, and with both Jack Ball and the ‘Marine keeper challenging for the aerial ball, the Paulton striker came off best and bundled the ball home for Rovers.

With both sides now looking to take the initiative, Rovers found themselves behind seven minutes later, as Marine’s Joe Selman cut in from the left touchline and hit a powerful right-foot shot which ricocheted into the path of Josh Parsons, who managed to force the ball over the line, despite the best efforts of Andre. There were claims of handball against Parsons from the Paulton defenders, but once again, the referee was not interested.

Rovers pushed hard for a second equaliser in the last quarter of the game, and almost got it when the marauding Kyle Knott whipped in a lovely cross from deep on to the outstretched leg of Jack Ball, but the striker just couldn’t get enough on it to trouble the keeper. Then, deep into injury time, substitute, Josh Morgan-Williams appeared to be pulled to the ground in the penalty area, and the referee continued with his reluctance to give Rovers a key decision.

On Saturday, 9th December, Paulton are home to Cinderford Town, kick-off 3 p.m.

Steve Longden