Paulton went down to Kettering Town in controversial fashion last Saturday. A last minute, disallowed goal by substitute, Ross Staley, was a bitter pill for Paulton’s nine men left to swallow. The linesman pointed to a hand ball when the ball was clearly controlled on his shoulder before scoring.

Kettering looked slick as Elliot Sandy lobbed over the bar and Craig Allan headed wide from Aaron Brown’s free kick as Rovers responded.

The Poppies took the lead after a deep cross from Liam Canavan found Courtney Baker-Richardson, who slipped the ball past Paulton keeper, Ben John. John then smothered the ball to stop Sandy and Canavan shot straight at the keeper. Left back, Jack Allward, who has returned to the club, had an influential presence all afternoon for Rovers.

Rovers had a chance when Aaron Brown found Jordan Walker, who, from 25 yards, thumped the ball against the bar.

Paulton opened brightly in the second half and Bament hit a free kick wide and Cameron Brown brought a save from visiting keeper, Enol Ordonez. On the hour, Cameron Brown was shown a straight red card for a seemingly innocuous tackle. Allawar passed to Jordan Ricketts, who found Bament who in turn narrowly missed Dominic Thomas. John then saved from Baker-Richardson and Allan, following up from Aaron Brown’s free kick, shot wide. Paulton suffered a second sending off when Dominc Thomas was dismissed for a late tackle. Fellow Bristol Rovers loanee, Jay Malpas, on as substitute, split the Kettering defence, but there was no end product. John was again called up as he saved from Jevani Brown, with Rovers’ defence looking very tight.

Another very controversial moment came in injury time, when Aaron Brown found Staley, who thought he had levelled and so did most of the travelling supporters!

The Man of the Match sponsor was King Lifting, based in Avonmouth, who chose Jack Allward. The Bristol Area Manager, Bob Ewans, who made the presentation, lives in Paulton and is a regular supporter at Rovers’ games.

As The Journal went to press on Tuesday, 22nd September Rovers travelled to Merthyr Town. This Saturday, it is the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round with fellow Evostik Southern League Premier side, Chesham United the visitors to Winterfield Road. Kick-off is at 3 p.m.

The two sides met at Chesham earlier this season with Rovers going down 2–1 in a loose contest with former Bristol Rovers’ striker, Barry Hayles, on the scoresheet for the Buckinghamshire outfit. The Sunday XI won 3–2 at FC Trinity and currently lead the Bath Sunday Division Three. The Youth Team beat Winscombe 2–0 last Thursday and this Thursday they travel to Bishop Sutton, kick-off 7.30 p.m.

Tony Walsh