Paulton deservedly gained three vital points as both sides did well in heavy, windy conditions.
After several pitch inspections and both sides wanting to play, the first half produced few clear cut chances. Michael McGrath’s corner sailed well wide and Rovers responded when Aaron Brown fired wide after good work from Sol Wheatley.
Paulton’s best chance saw Josh Ford press forward, Jordan Ricketts head the ball and Stratford centre half, Anthony Charles, meet with a header that landed on the top of the bar and rolled over. Twice Town were thwarted by keeper, Ben John. First, the ball fell kindly to Mark McGee, who fed Simeon Tulloch, only for John to outwit the winger. Paulton came out determined to get something out of this game, Mario Mateus combined with Jeanne and should have done better.
A series of Rovers corners put pressure on the visitors’ defence, but Stratford broke to take the lead on 58 minutes as McGrath ran at the Paulton defence and laid the ball to Mark McKee, who slipped it past John.
Paulton equalised five minutes later when Ricketts played a double one two with Mateus and was on hand to tuck the ball past keeper, Cutts.
Jake Mawford came on to make his Rovers debut after 72 minutes and three minutes later, he made it 2–1. Receiving the ball wide on the right, he cut inside and curled a centre shot over Cutts and into the net.
Rovers defended well as Alex Grimshaw and Josh Ford cleared waves of pressure, whilst Brown, Mullings and man of the match, Ricketts, battoned down the hatches to seal another win.
Tony Walsh