Rovers’ first pre-season game after the team’s successful tour of Gibraltar saw a comfortable victory at Western League Bitton last Friday evening.
From the start, Paulton sent wave after wave of attacks and on three minutes, left back, Connor O’Sullivan, linked with Reeko Best on the left, with former youth team player, Will Hailstone, on hand to score twelve yards out.
George Brimson headed narrowly wide, then, on nine miniutes, it was 2–0 as Hailstone’s corner on the left was turned home by Nathan Legge.
Bitton tested Rovers’ new keeper, Ed Baldy, as a bouncing ball hit the post with the ex-Frome stopper on hand to smother the ball. Rovers pressed and in quick succession saw shots from Sol Wheatley, Legge, Best and Brimson all go narrowly wide.
Paulton made a number of changes and Ibs Diallo, on his return to Rovers colours, hit a firm right wing corner neatly driven home by centre half, Joe Chandler, after 53 minutes.
Five minutes later it was 4–0 as Jay Phillip broke down the right and crossed for Best, coming off the left wing to control and drive the ball home.
Paulton are away at Radstock Town on Wednesday, 20th July and at Cheddar on Friday, 22nd July, both kick-off at 7.45 p.m.
They are at home at Winterfield Road to Weston-super-Mare on Friday, 29th July, kick-off at 7.30 p.m.
The Southern League season starts on Saturday, 6th August with a trip to Wantage Town and the following Tuesday they are at home to Wimborne Town.
Tony Walsh