Quarter-Final Red Insure (Southern League) Cup

MERTHYR TOWN 0 v 0 PAULTON ROVERS (Merthyr win 5–3 on penalties)

Paulton battled hard on the 3G pitch at Merthyr on Tuesday evening, and right back, Steve Williams, the host’s former Captain, who moved to Paulton last year, was Man of the Match against his former team mates.

Both keepers were kept busy, with Rovers’ Ben John saving shots from strikers, Ryan Prosser and winger, Jon Brown.

For Paulton, Mario Mateus was a constant threat, despite The Martyr’s central defenders towering over him and on many occasions, he out jumped them. Mateus should have earned a penalty when he was hauled to the ground after 28 minutes by former Frome Town defender, Rhys Baggeridge.

Josh Read, recently released by Exeter City, looked lively on his Paulton debut. John brillliantly turned the ball around the post as Prosser hit a low goal bound shot.

Merthyr keeper, Cameron Clarke, did well to save a dipping effort from Aaron Brown and see Williams’ thunderbolt sail narrowly over his crossbar.

Leon Jeanne was running his marker ragged and twice near found Mateus and fellow winger, Sol Wheatley, as they so nearly got behind the home defence.

The cup tie proceeded to the perverbial penalty shoot-out with no half-time.

Brown, Jeanne, Read and Williams converted for Rovers, but Jordan Ricketts saw his kick saved by Clarke. Merthyr converted all of their spot kicks, with Captain, Ash Evans, hiting the eventual winner.

Report by Tony Walsh