WIMBORNE TOWN 1 PAULTON ROVERS 1

A young Paulton team with five youth players filling in for the ten experienced players unavailable competed for a deserved draw in Rovers ninth pre-season game against Wimborne Town.

Wimborne were a threat down the left-hand side, and it was from there that they took an early lead in the fourth minute. Curtis Young passed Connal Morrison’s throw-in to Harry Morgan. His quick feet found room in a crowded penalty area to cross low to the far post, where Shepherd scored from close range.

Aaron Sainsbury, in the Rovers goal, was alert to deny the lively ex-Eastleigh striker, Lewis Beale. His opposite number, Cam Plain, on loan from AFC Bournemouth, saved well from Paulton front man, Leighton Thomas.

Making his first team debut, 16-year-old, Harley Prior, playing centre forward for the visitors, grew in confidence and was well supported by Thomas and Tyler Jackson, receiving great encouragement from Dave O’Hare and Braeden Symes.

Two other youngsters making the starting line-up worked tirelessly on what became an increasingly warm afternoon in East Dorset.

Prior was not afraid to test Plain on several occasions. He set up Jackson, whose attempt missed the goal, whilst O’Hare curled a superb free kick inches wide of Plain’s left hand post. From another O’Hare cross Thomas’ flicked header was narrowly wide of the target.

At the centre of defence, Dan Dempsey, in his third season in the first team, looked calm marshalling Beale and Shepherd. Whilst full-backs Alex Twiggs on the right and Captain, Nuno Felix, on the left attacked like traditional wingers.

Paulton started the second-half stronger. Felix’s cross forced a corner on the left, before the increasingly influential O’Hare’s cross was headed against the top of the upright by Dempsey. After Beale had been thwarted by Sainsbury when one-on-one with the young keeper, the visitors equalised. Coming in from the left, Prior’s close-range shot was palmed down by Plain, only for Thomas to drive home the rebound from five yards.

Beale’s persistence won the ball near the visitors’ box only for Morgan’s shot to be blocked; Skipper Scott Arnold’s long ball gave substitute, Addwell Chipangura, chance to wriggle along the by-line and the young winger then had a shot blocked before an ambitious effort was high and wide.

A facial injury to Twiggs saw him replaced by sixteen-year-old youth team, Tash Jackson, who acquitted himself well. 18-year-old, Tyler Lane also made his entrance shot wide from fellow substitute, Lesley Sternbank’s cross as Paulton pressed for that winner.

‘The Magpies’ midfielder, Callum Chugg, who had earlier been booked for a crude tackle that saw Symes limp off, rescued his colleagues with two flying blocks and a crucial tackle after an under-hit back pass left Plain off his line; and just before the final whistle, Sternbank, coming in from the right, drew a fine save from the keeper.

So far, pre-season, Rovers have won three, drawn two and lost two, leaving boss John Rendell reasonably pleased with his squad’s performances to date. Rendell’s side’s final pre-season game will be away to Chippenham Town on 6th August, 7.45 pm.

Rovers are Away to Cinderford Town on Saturday, 14th August. The First Home game at Winterfield Road the following Wednesday kicks-off at 7.30 pm. Tony Walsh