PAULTON ROVERS 0 WIMBORNE TOWN 1

Paulton went down by the only goal after dominating the first half.

The visitors had the first chance, as Louis Kellaway shot straight at Ed Baldy. Rovers won a free kick, with Jordan Ricketts hitting the Magpies’ wall.

Wimborne keeper, Patrick O’Flaherty, on loan from AFC Bournemouth, was quick to stop a slick move with Reeko Best and Sol Wheatley playing a one-two which was snuffed out. That was the clearest chance of the first half.

Elliott Gibbons was on target for Rovers, hitting over the bar and in response, Luke Holmes hit a dipping shot over Baldy’s crossbar.

Jordan Ricketts weaved across the area and tried to find Kailan Gould, only for Wimborne’s defence to clear the ball.

Early in the second half Paulton pressed, playing neat football but lacking a goalward threat as Gould and Gibbons both had shots held by O’Flaherty.

The Magpies, breaking quickly, were bearing down on Rovers’ goal, with Ryan Shaw tackling Luke Holmes to stop the threat. Toby Holmes, leading the Town attack largely on his own, was causing Alex Grimshaw and Nathan Summers at the heart of the Paulton defence lots of problems.

On 59 minutes, that threat produced the only goal, as Jamie Davidson split the Rovers defence and Toby Holmes round badly to make it 1–0.

Now it was Wimborne’s turn to defend thwarted Best and Ricketts. Rovers brought on Will Hailston, Ibs Diallo and Nathan Legge, and there was greater effort from the home side to no avail, as the three points made their way back to Dorset.

Castello Italian Restaurant in Radstock were Man of the Match sponsors and chose Ed Baldy (Paulton Rovers).

Report by Tony Walsh