THATCHAM TOWN 0 PAULTON 0

Paulton travelled to Berkshire side, Thatcham Town, for the opening game of the season and came away with a deserved point with a battling performance from both sides.

Youngster, Dan Dempsey came in for the suspended Craig Allan.

Paulton started brightly and Dan Cottles’ right wing cross was headed goal-wards by Tom Llewellyn.

The Kingfishers first chance was on seventeen minutes as the tricky, Jordan Alves found Andy Gunn with header going wide. Then Dempsey blocked Alves half volley.

Alves had a great chance on twenty eight minutes but blasted over and Rovers responded with a neat 1-2 between Cottle and Dave O’Hare, with a last ditch tackle preventing a chance.

Paulton had the first chance of the second half on fifty three minutes as Ben Withey played in Cottle, who tried to dink the ball over the keeper, only for it to go wide.

On the hour, a magical run by substitute, Brad Pagilaroi, from his own half, he tried to chip the ball over visiting keeper, Aaron Sainsbury and the follow-up shot was blocked.

Paulton’s central defence of Charlie Hitchens and youngster, Dempsey were making it difficult for the hosts cutting out any attacking danger.

Thatcham had a great chance on sixty two minutes after a free kick from Alves saw striker, Connor Lynch bicycle kick the ball wide.

Cottle then beat the defence only to fire wide whilst Pagilaroli hit a volley narrowly over. Then Cottle looked to have been brought down in the box but the referee waved aside any Rovers appeal.

In the dying minutes, Cottle’s free kick was headed just wide of the post by sub, Will Hailston.

Man of the Match was Dan Dempsey from Paulton Rovers.

Future fixtures are as follows:

Saturday, 26th September first team are away in the FA Trophy against Cirencester Town, kick-off 3 p.m.

Then first home game of the season is Wednesday, 30th September against Bideford, kick-off, 7.30 p.m.

The Reserves are home on Saturday 26th against Glastonbury Reserves, kick-off at 2 p.m. The Reserves are away at Pen Mill, also a 2 p.m. kick-off.

The Ladies First team are home in the league to Keynsham Town on Sunday, 27th

September, kick-off at 2 p.m. Bob Allard