PAULTON ROVERS 3 CINDERFORD TOWN 1

Paulton took their chances to claim three points against slick visitors, Cinderford Town.

Cinderford opened brightly dominating the first fifteen minutes, testing Rovers’ keeper, Joe Perry, through shots from Lorcan Sheehan and Ethan Moore. Then, James Harding hit a low-shot wide.

Paulton defending was determined, with Captain, Charlie Harding, and his partner, Craig Allan, weathering the storm, and on seventeen minutes, a run down the left from Ed Butcher saw his low-drive cleared off the visitors’ line. Harding cut down the left and squared back to Moore, only for Perry to save with his feet before smothering the ball.

On 38 minutes, Rovers took the lead as Brad Abraham was fouled. Butcher’s left-footed free-kick deep on the right then flashed past everyone into the net. Rovers had a couple of early chances in the second half when Dave Sims tried to set up Butcher, then Sheehan set up Marley Thomas, but his shot was well-held by Perry.

Paulton made it 2-0 on 56 minutes as a miss-hit ball by former Rovers’ keeper, Andy Hannah, was seized upon by Jake Sloggett, who ran on to slot past him.

Perry was keeping busy pushing shots from Sheehan and Thomas, whilst Hannah was again tested as Rovers pressed for third. It was 3-0 on 67 minutes, as a deep cross from the left was turned home by Butcher, who ghosted in by the right-hand post.

The Foresters threw everything forward, as Thomas went one-to-one with Perry, flicking over the top and wide, whilst Andy Lewis headed over.

Lewis pulled a goal back on 89 minutes, heading home from a deep Sam Turl cross. There was a chance for Butcher to grab his hat-trick as he raced his own half to run on, but he chipped wide.

A good start for Paulton boss, John Rendell’s squad.MELKSHAM TOWN 2 PAULTON ROVERS 4In sweltering heat Paulton, ran out deserved winners after Melksham missed early chances through ex-Rovers striker, Jack Ball.The crowd of 408 saw Paulton take a seventh-minute lead as Brad Abraham was fouled and Cam Shorney hit a superb dipping free-kick past Melksham keeper, Liam Kingston. It was 2-0 to Rovers on sixteen minutes as seventeen-year-old Ali Sen picked up a loose ball and hit a cracking left-footed drive passed Kingston.Within two minutes, Melksham pulled a goal back direct from a left-wing corner with his right foot the ball sailed across the goal area and in on the left-hand post. On 21 minutes it was 2-2, as another Bellinger corner was bundled in by Jack Ball.Ballinger, who had a spell in Paulton’s promotion season, was trying to dominate midfield, and hit a shot over the bar. The response saw Ed Butcher through one-on-one with the keeper, who cleared with his legs. Melksham started the second half on fire as Balinger’s shot was blocked. Liam Monelle then saw his drive tipped over Perry, who was alert to again tip over, this time from Ball.Rovers went ahead on 61 minutes as Abraham chipped over the defence and Ben Bament vollied into the net with a first-time effort. Five minutes later, Bament ran on and as he rounded Kingston he was brought down just outside the area, with the keeper only receiving a yellow card.Shorney was making an impressive debut, as the Keynsham youngster looked confident after a spell playing in New Zealand. He was involved in the build-up to Rovers final goal in time added on as he laid to Dave Sims-Burgess to lob over the top for Bament to sweep into the net.A fine start for Paulton, who are home to Thatcham Town on Saturday; kick off 3 p.m.Tony Walsh