Paulton went down 3–2 at top-of-the-table Merthyr Town on their newly- laid 3G all-weather pitch. Rovers took the lead in the second minute. Ben Lacey, playing at right back, went on a thirty-yard run, shooting from the edge of the penalty area, the ball was deflected up and over the home keeper, Giles Cutlan.
They nearly added another a minute later as Darren Jefferies cut in from the right wing and laid the ball to Brandon Barnes, but his carefully placed shot hit the foot of the post with Cutlan well beaten. It was all Paulton with diminutive striker, Saul Williams, impressing on his debut upfront. The former Tottenham Hotspur trainee is on a month's loan from Forest Green Rovers.
It was Barnes who made it 2–0 to the visitors in the eighteenth minute. Lacey broke down the right and his low cross was dummied by Nick McCootie for Barnes to control and rifle home. Unbeaten at home this season, 'The Martyrs' responded with long shots from Kris Leek and Ryan Charles. However, they pulled one back after Jamie Rewberry headed home on 24 minutes. Charles then missed a glorious chance from a Morgan cross, heading wide across goal with Paulton keeper, Kyle Phillips, beaten.
McCootie and Saul Williams were giving the Merthyr defence a torrid time and both had chances to increase Rovers' lead, whilst the home attack were coming up against a stubborn
defence. Merthyr levelled through Kerry Morgan three minutes after the interval. Dan Summerfield broke down the right and his cross was headed home from the left. The pendulum was swinging as Town turned the screw with wave after wave of attacks. Phillips was on hand to punch away several crosses, whilst Ryan Batten and Scott Brice were on hand to neuter the home attackers.
Merthyr sealed the comeback and the win in the 78th minute with a thirty-yard thunderbolt from former Bristol City and Rovers player, Gavin Williams. Rovers tried to get the equaliser. McCootie was injured in the process, suffering what appears to be serious ligament damage. There was time for a five minute First Team debut for eighteen-year-old Callum Hinder, stepping up from Paulton's Youth Team. This was a tremendous game in front of a crowd approaching 450. However, for Rovers' Manager, Nick Bunyard, the game was a great disappointment, as his side have now lost three games in a row, however, they still retain third place.
Team: Kyle Phillips, Ben Lacey, Ryan Batten, Scott Brice (sub Callum Hinder 88 mins), Mike Reaney, Brandon Barnes, Mike Perrott, Darren Jefferies, Saul Williams (Josh Klein-Davies 73), Dan Cleverley (C), Nick McCootie (Ollie Price 81). Subs not used: Josh Jeffries, Nick Bunyard.
Yate Town visit Winterfield Road this Saturday, kick-off at 3 p.m. Paulton's rearranged games will see them travel to Tiverton Town on Tuesday, 28th January and at Mangotsfield United on
Tuesday, 4th February, with a home game versus Godalming Town on Tuesday, 18th February. The Sunday XI lost 4–1 to FC Frome and this Sunday travel to Warminster to play FC St George, kick-off at 10.30 a.m.
Tony Walsh