PAULTON ROVERS 0 v 4 POOLE TOWN

A flurry of second half goals gave a deserved victory to Poole after Paulton gave a credible first half performance.

Rovers Captain, Darren Mullings, saw his second minute header held by keeper, Nick Hutchings and his opposite number, Ben John, pulled off a save from Marvin Brooks, after Michael Walker had headed Steve Devlin’s free kick into his path.

Mullings was on hand to flick over the bar from Walker’s shot, and from the corner, Brooks headed straight into John’s hands.

Rovers pressed with several half chances lacking that final goal-scoring edge. Poole had chances when Walker blasted over and substitute, Tony Lee, was beaten to the ball by John.

Within two minutes of the restart, Luke Roberts broke down the left and his shot was parried by John, but he followed up to make it 1–0.

Lee fired over from twenty-five yards and Rovers’ clearance broke down as a long shot on 54 minutes saw Brooks race through and lob the on-rushing John into the net.

It was 3–0 after 63 minutes as Brooks headed home from Devlin’s corner.

Two minutes later, Brooks fluffed his hat trick chance through a one-on-one with John, he hit the post when it looked easier to score and was lucky not to receive a second yellow after taking out his frustration on John and centre-half, Craig Allan.

Poole now dominated and it was no surpise after 74 minutes as Devlin’s cutting pass found Lee, who slipped the ball past John.

Paulton’s best chance came with three minutes left as substitute, Kelvin Douglas, hit a thunderous shot heading for the top corner until Hutchings brillliantly touched for a corner.