PAULTON Rovers are out of the FA Cup after a 1-0 defeat away at a well drilled AFC Stoneham side on Saturday, losing out to a goal scored barely minutes into the tie.

It was clear from the first whistle that Stoneham were going to be tough to beat. They are currently in form having won all four of their opening games of the season.

They moved the ball quickly with incisive passing and after just five minutes a cross from the left failed to be cleared, leaving Ryan Cluett to sweep the ball in at the far post. Rovers struggled to gain any momentum and Stoneham took most of the possession.

The game settled somewhat but unfortunately never really fired into much life. The hosts nearly doubled their lead on a couple of occasions as the half played out but Rovers hadn’t even made the home keeper make a save.

The second half certainly needed a big response from the visitors and to some extent it got one. There was a little more purpose when Rovers had the ball and in the 54th minute the first sign they could grab an equaliser. Good work from Dan McBeam and Martin Lenihan gave the latter a chance to swing the ball in from the right. Kyle Witt was just beaten to the ball at the far post though.

Stoneham still looked the more likely to score but rarely actually troubled Alfie Kelsey in the Paulton goal. As the half wore on, and with substitutions made, Rovers began putting some pressure on the Stoneham goal. With minutes to go Kyle Witt got clear in the box only to fire wide and in added time another Martin Lenihan cross was met by Tom Bradley who steered his header just wide. Unfortunately, the game hadn’t been much of a spectacle; the ball being mostly bogged down in the midfield. Hopefully they can be back to their best when we travel to St Blazey in the Premier Division of the Jewson Western League for the next outing!

St Blazey put up a spirited fight before losing 2-1 away in the league to Saltash United who have stormed into a three-point lead at the top of the Premier Division after winning all five of their matches. St Blazey have begun the season with four points from their opening five matches, with a win, draw and three defeats.

Helston and Clevedon Town both have 12 points in joint second place, but Clevedon have a game in hand, having won all four of their matches.

At the other end of the table, AFC St Austell are bottom, having lost all five of their fixtures so far. Nailsea & Tickenham are one place above them, having picked up their first point of the season in a goalless home draw against Wellington.

The coach for Paulton’s game at St Blazey will leave the club at 8-30 a.m. and supporters wishing to travel are asked to add their name to the list in the clubhouse as soon as possible as there will be limited availability.

On Tuesday 26 August Paulton are home to Oldland Abbotonians kick off is 7-30 p.m.

On Thursday 28 August the U18s have a home pre season friendly entertaining Chilcompton kick off 7-30 p.m.