Slimbridge 1 Paulton Rovers 1

Paulton will be disappointed not to have gained more than a point as they drew at lowly Slimbridge.

After Rovers keeper Aaron Sainsbury saved from Joe Shutt, the hosts took an eleventh minute lead as Marley Thomas burst down the left wing and pulled the ball back for Rudi McKinnon to fire home from twelve yards out.

Left back Nuno Felix was trying to create chances for Paulton, who were missing centre forward Joe Morgan and midfielder Dan Dempsey. However, it was somewhat lacklustre from the visitors.

McKinnon brought a fine save from Sainsbury and in response in the twenty-eighth minute, Rovers had a great chance to level as Ed Butcher burst down the left, he found Jack Filingham deputising for Morgan. With the open goal at his mercy he inexplicably hit the ball against the crossbar.

Slimbridge left back Ben Prictor, an ex-Paulton player, was booked for dissent, then minutes later received a second yellow card for a foul on Will Hailston.

On the resumption Rovers set about dominating play. Dave O'Hare found Butcher and his low cross evaded the Paulton forwards. Then Dan McBeam's shot was deflected bringing a fine save from 'The Swan's' keeper Lewis Adams.

From the next attack on sixty five minutes, Rovers equalised and what a goal it was. Felix broke forward and from twenty five yards out hit a pile driver, with the outside of his left forward which found the top right hand corner of the net giving Adams no chance.

Slimbridge responded as James Sunley fired over, then saw another shot whistle across Paulton goal and sail wide.

With seven minutes left Rovers thought they had won it as Felix's left footed corner on the right was headed goal-wards by Nick Hewlett and cleared off the line with some in the visiting contingent claiming it had crossed the left. The referee waived play on.

In added time Sainsbury made an excellent save from prolific scorer Ethan Dunbar who was kept quiet by Dan Restorick playing his first game since injuring himself on 2nd January.

Paulton Rovers man of the match went to Nuno Felix, another wholehearted and excellent performance. His goal was his second of the week. He had previously not scored for five years!

Paulton home to second placed AFC Totton on Saturday kick-off 3 p.m.then on Tuesday, 14th February it home to Yeovil Town in the quarter final of the Somerset Premier Cup kick-off 7-30 p.m.

Tony Walsh