Paulton extended their wins to four games on the trot as Mario Mateus struck twice for Tony Ricketts’ men to beat Winchester City last Saturday.
Craig Feeney brought a save from Rovers’ keeper, Andrew Hannah, from the corner. The ball fell to Danny Smith, whose volley was turned away by Hannah.
On 35 minutes, Elliott Gibbons played a ball through to Matt Benham, who was brought down by the visitors’ Player/Manager, Craig Davis, for which he was shown a red card. A minute later, Matt Long’s cross was handled by Danny Smith, but Gibbons saw his penalty saved by Lewis Noice.
Three minutes later, Mateus opened the scoring, as Gibbons threaded the ball through and the striker slipped the ball past Noice.
Winchester were the better side for most of the second half, with Hannah on hand to stop Smith. Long was creating moves down the left for Rovers, until injury forced him off. Feeney blasted high over the bar and that chance his side were to rue.
Paulton right back, Ryan Shaw, took a quick through ball to Benham, who split the Winchester defence for Mateus to run on and stroke past Noice. Substitute, Nathan Legge, should have made it three for Rovers, as he broke down the left and decided to shoot, but hit the side netting.
Can Paulton Rovers make it five wins on the trot as they welcome Shortwood United this Saturday, kick-off at 3 p.m.? Their final home game is against relegated Bridgwater Town on Easter Monday, again, with a 3 p.m. kick-off.
The Sunday side reached the final of the Tom Morgan Cup, beating Kingsmead 4–3 after extra time. This is the second week running they have beaten the league leaders after last week’s 3–1 win in the league. This Sunday they are home to GT Sports, kick-off at 10.30 a.m.
The Youth team have an eight point lead at the top of the Somerset Floodlit Youth league Division One North with four games to play. On Monday, 10th April they are away to Larkhall Athletic, kick-off at 7.30 p.m. then home on Thursday, 13th April to Bitton, again, kick-off at 7.30 p.m.
Tony Walsh