Paulton Rovers travelled over 100 miles to Surrey, on Saturday, 17th August, for the opening league match against Godalming Town and returned with a comprehensive victory.

If this display is to be the standard bearer for the season, then Manager, Nick Bunyard, and his assistant, Paul Milsom, will be pushing for promotion. However, 'one match does not a season make!'.

Apart from early scurries into the Paulton half, the home side rarely troubled Paulton's defence and debutant keeper, Lewis Pierre, standing in for the suspended Kyle Phillips, did not have a save to make until 61 minutes.

Mike Perrott, who joined Rovers from Frome Town, opened the scoring after sixteen minutes. A left-footed corner from the right by Brandon Barnes caused confusion in the Godalming defence and Perrott stroked the ball past home stopper, Justin Courtnage.

Rovers peppered Courtnage's goal and with a little more composure could have put away chances that fell to Barnes, Dan Cleverley, Ben Lacey and Nick McCottie.

With Captain Cleverley running the midfield engine room, on 37 minutes, the breakthrough came to make it 2–0. Right back, Stuart Tovey, took a quick throw to Lacey, who raced and dribbled past his marker to pull the ball back to debutant striker, Jake Harris, on loan from Hereford United, who made no mistake from twelve yards out.

Three minutes later, Harris, a former Somerset U-18's colleague of Rovers' winger, Ben Lacey, hit an early contender for goal of the season.

Centre half, Scott Brice, played a ball out of defence to Harris, who turned and from thirty yards out, hit a screamming shot into the top righthand corner of the net. Truly an amazing goal for those watching and drew applause, not only from the 25 hardy Paulton fans, but from over a hundred home supporters who roundly applauded the quality of this goal.

Rovers continued the second half where they left off. Barnes laid the ball to McCottie whose effort sailed over the bar. Then raiding left back, Mike Reaney, tried his luck from distance, but Courtnage saved well.

James Billing, who had come on for McCottie fifteen minutes earlier, made it 4–0 after 72 minutes, runnning onto a pass by fellow substitute, Dean Evans, and shooting into the corner of the net across the hapless Courtnage.

Godalming did try challenging a resolute Paulton defence, well marshalled by Brice and Marcus Mapstone, and their two attempts on target from Jack Broome and Dan Seabourne were easily dealt with by Pierre.

The scoring rout was completed nine minutes later when Perrott raced down the left wing in to the penalty area and as his low cross attempted to find Billing, Godalming defender, Adam Everiss, cut the ball into his own net.

Team: Lewis Pierre, Stuart Tovey, Mike Reaney, Marcus Mapstone, Scott Brice, Brandon Barnes, Mike Perrott, Ben Lacey (sub. Dave Thompson, 81 mins), Jake Harris (Dean Evans, 63), Dan Cleverley, Nick McCootie (sub. James Billing, 56). Subs: Ollie Price, Josh Jeffries.

Paulton opened their home fixtures on Tuesday, 20th August, against Tiverton Town, and next Saturday are

home again to Swindon Supermarine.

On Saturday, 31st August, Paulton begin this season's FA Cup exploits at home in the Preliminary Round.They will play the winner of Street and Shepton Mallet, who replayed on Tuesday, 20th August at Street, after drawing 0–0 in the Pre-Preliminary Round.

Tony Walsh