On paper, Rovers went into this game as clear favourites having won their last two league games.

Paulton Rovers 2 Larkhall Athletic 4

The game began as if to fulfil that prediction, as Paulton were on the attack from the outset. However, Athletic quickly established themselves and in the seventh minute, against the run of play, Dawid Regula opened the scoring for Larkhall as he side footed an excellent cross, delivered on the run by Wayne Nderemani past Aaron Sainsbury in the home goal.

This setback seemed to spur Rovers on. In the twelth minute defender Mike Ilea, showing strength and composure, gained control in midfield. Kyle Tooze benefitted and hammered a shot beyond Alfie Kelsey in the Larkhall goal to make the score 1-1.

Terrific left wing play by Paulton’s Ed Butcher led to fine cross deflected for a corner which Ilea headed over.

Though Rovers were dominating possession at his stage, the Larks were dangerous on the break. Sainsbury, under pressure, miscued his clearance into touch. From here, Bradley Norris and the skilful Nderemani exchanged passes before Norris stroked the ball into the net to put Athletic in front once more.

With the score at 1-2, Paulton tried hard to get back on level terms, but Ed Butcher was repeatedly fouled by Tom Bradley as he tried to make progress on the left. The defender was duly booked. An excellent cross by Tooze was headed wide by David O’Hare. Will Harvey’s free-kick was charged down. But the momentum now was with Larks, and in the thirty-third minute, that man Nderemani picked up a loose headed clearance and aimed a shot perfectly just inside Sainsbury’s left hand post to increase Larkhall’s lead.

The second half became increasingly scrappy, but Paulton nearly scored as Tooze’s cross was somehow gathered by Kelsey at the feet of substitute Paulo Borges, and Tooze himself shot high and wide. Rovers enjoyed a spell of pressure but their good interplay too often came to nothing.

Then Regula, though clearly offside, beat Sainsbury to a through ball but his effort bounced harmlessly wide. The Larkhall centre forward also missed two other chances as Athletic mastered the windy conditions and captain Harry Simons and Daniel Restorick provided crosses.

In the eighty second minute, Butcher, this time fouled by Jack Goodall, fired the free-kick into the box where Will Harvey was on hand to drive the ball into the roof of the net to make the score 2-3. Rovers showed more belief in their play and captain Nuno Felix, James Byrne and substitute Leo Eglin were all involved in promising moves that proved fruitless.

Then in added time, Nderemani gathered a through ball, outpaced the Paulton defence and struck the ball sweetly beyond Sainsbury into the far corner of the net.

Paulton man of the Match: Mike Ilea – strong and determined in defence. Noel Avis