Southern League Challenge Cup Round 2, Tuesday, 15th November

PAULTON ROVERS 1 WEYMOUTH 1 (Paulton win 4–3 on penalties)

Paulton won an exiting cup match, winning 4–3 in a penalty shootout after honours were even after ninety minutes.

Both sides provided an entertaining first half and created several chances.

Jake Mawford, back with Paulton, was on hand to test keeper, Jason Matthews, the Paulton born Weymouth Player/Manager.

On ten minutes, Mawford was very harshly adjudged offside when he appeared to race past the visitors’ defence for Kane Simpson to turn the ball past Matthews.

Chae Brancman had a chance for Weymouth, bringing a fine save from Rovers’ keeper, Andrew Hannah.

Weymouth had a tremendous shot after 47 minutes, as Jordan Copp hit a 35-yard shot which hit the post and from the replay, Brancman’s header brought a Gordon Bankesque save from Hannah.

Hannah then held a shot from Charlie Davis and blocked a drive from Stuart Fleetwood.

Rovers created their best chance on 72 minutes as Kailan Gould found Will Hailston, laid it back to Adam Mahmood, and his cross was headed wide by Simpson with the goal at his mercy.

Two minutes later, Paulton went ahead as Gould broke down the left, cut in, and Simpson was on hand to score.

They should have added a second as Gould’s cross saw Simpson miss the target with another header.

Weymouth pressed, although Rovers appeared to weather the storm, but in the 90th minute, Dan Smith’s cross was unfortunately diverted into his own net by Alex Grimshaw, spoiling an otherwise solid performance.

Paulton converted all their four penalties through Hailston, Simpson, Mawford and Gould.

For Weymouth, penalties were taken by Copp, Fleetwood and Brooks with Smith’s saved by Hannah and Tarbuck hitting the crossbar.