BRIDGWATER UNITED 0

PAULTON ROVERS 1

Paulton beat Bridgey to set up Somerset Premier Cup Final against Bath City.

A Dave O’Hare’s free kick was headed over by Will Hailston who then curled a shot wide.

After early pressure Rovers defence coped well as the hosts pressed although their largely long ball game was well dealt with in the Paulton rearguard well marshalled by captain Neil Martin returning after a three match suspension.

Down the right Martin Lenihan making his first start after three months out injured was proving a real threat.

Former Rovers midfielder Tom Llewelyn set up Jake Llewelyn to find Jake Brown with his shot easily held by Paulton keeper Aaron Sainsbury.

A neat move involving Ed Butcher, Hailston, Jack Filingham fed Dan Dempsey whose fierce drive was parried away by home keeper Jake Vineyard.

The second half saw Lenihan drive a low shot wide then Dan McBeam fired a volley wide.

Bridgwater were pushing hard with Allen Mabia lively down either wing and Jake Thorne saw his volley well held by Sainsbury.

The deadlock was broken on 67 minute as Lenihan swung in a cross from the right and Fillingham turn the ball off the post and past Viney into the net.

There then followed a period of ping pong by both sides with ball frequently given away. However Rovers regained the initiative Dan McBeam was fouled and Butcher fizzed in a free kick on the right with a left foot effort than hit the crossbar.

Sainsbury, who was rarely troubled saved from Thorne’s low shot as the referee blew the whistle to the joy of a large number of Paulton travelling fans.

PAULTON PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Martin Lenihan (total effort for the whole game)

Paulton will now play Bath City in the final on Tuesday 2 May to now be played at Weston Super Mare’s Optima Stadium, kick off 7.45pm.

TONY WALSH