A left wing cross by Taunton winger, Jordan Rogers, found Matt Wright, who failed to hit the target. Kailan Gould laid the ball back to Sol Wheatley, who passed to Elliott Gibbons, whose shot went wide of the Taunton goal.
Reeko Best saw his shot blocked by the Peacocks’ defender, Ed Palmer, while Rovers’ stopper, Andrew Hannah, was on hand to save Wright’s header. Gould found Nathan Legge, who dribbled through the visiting defence, only to shoot wide – a missed chance.
Rovers started well in the second half and took the lead on fifty minutes. As Best raced through, he rounded keeper, Lloyd Irish, and the sliced clearance fell to Ryan Radford, who, twenty yards out, fired into an open net. Four minutes later, Taunton had Ed Palmer red carded as he stopped Gould racing onto a goal-scoring opportunity.
With both sides pressing, Paulton made it 2–0 on 78 minutes as Gould cut inside, played a one-two with Radford, and the youngster slotted a low shot past Lloyd Irish.
Paulton were then awarded a penalty as Lloyd Irish was adjudged to pull down Best, but Jordan Ricketts’ penalty was easily held by the keeper. Taunton grabbed a consolation in time added on, as substitute, Matt Buse’s cross was turned home by Matt Wright. Man of the match: Kailan Gould (Paulton Rovers).
Paulton’s First Team are away to Bishops Cleeve on Saturday, 11th February, kick-off at 3 p.m. The Youth Team are home this Thursday, 9th February to Welton Rovers and then away next week to Larkhall Athletic, both kick off at 7.30 p.m. The Sunday XI are away to Walcot at Larkhall in the Tom Morgan Cup, kick-off at 10.15 a.m.
A collection for former Paulton player, Jamie Mines, who suffered very serious injuries in a work accident before Christmas, has raised £500.
Tony Walsh