Paulton eased into the next round against a plucky Portland side, who are the current champions of the Wessex League.
With the wind in their favour, United pressed the Rovers’ back line, who soaked up all that was thrown at them.
Paulton went ahead on seven minutes, as Dale Evans’ corner on the right was headed firmly home by central defender Joe Chandler.
Chandler and Sam Hedges defended well to stop the home attack, and keeper Keiran Hodges made full use of playing the ball out to his full-backs, Camen Harvey, on the right, and Josh Cann, on the left.
Paulton came out more attacking in the second half, and captain Evans and Joe Guest were running midfield, looking for the width of James Byrne and Kailan Gould, who keep swapping wings – giving their markers a difficult task.
Rovers added a second goal on 55 minutes, as Hodges rolled the ball out to Harvey, and his through ball found Sam Hillard running onto the ball, as he lobbed the keeper into an open net.
Alex Godfrey had several chances for Portland, and Gould responded by clipping the crossbar.
Substitute Joe White replaced the hard-working centre forward, Omar Simpson, with Jack Ball on for Hillard, and the two new men combined, only to see White miss the target from only a yard out, as he looked certain to score. On the coach home he was the butt of some good-natured banter from his team mates.
On 85 minutes it was 3-0, as Evans laid the ball to Gould – who found Joe White on the left and his low cross was turned home by Ball to score his first goal for Paulton.
Portland are a very hospitable club and were magnanimous in defeat. Their facilities are better than some clubs in the Southern League, and Rovers wish them well in their promotion endeavours.
Man of the Match: Dale Evans (Paulton Rovers).
Paulton Rovers have been drawn at home in the first qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup to fellow Evostik Southern League rivals, Winchester City. The game at Winterfield Road will be played on Saturday, 2nd September at 3 p.m.
Rovers are at home to Evesham United at Winterfield Road, on Saturday, 26th August – kick-off is 3 p.m. Then on Bank Holiday Monday, 28th August, Rovers travel to county rivals Taunton Town, where kick-off is again 3 p.m.