FA Youth Cup 1st Qualifying Round, Hallen 3 Paulton Rovers 2: Paulton’s very young youth team made a spirited comeback from a three-goal deficit but eventually lost out to a more experienced Hallen side.

The hosts took a 3rd-minute lead as Zaid Samadi latched onto a poor clearance and shot low past Rovers’ keeper Massimo Sardo.

With most of the side being 16 or younger, they seemed overwhelmed, and Hallen made it 2-0 in the 10th minute as Yunis Sert ran through to add to the tally.

Paulton rallied and started to outplay Hallen, with Eitenne Norman narrowly heading wide.

On the half-hour mark, a long ball out of defence by Hallen saw Harrison Fairborn clearly (estimated 5 yards) offside, with no whistle, as he ran on to make it 3-0.

Rovers came out undeterred, and within minutes, they pulled two goals back in double quick time.

In the 47th minute, Aston Rice headed past Hallen’s keeper Eric Thomas, and within a minute, Alex Kelleher hit a low shot, bringing the score to 3-2, and the game was on.

Rovers were now the better side, and half-chances fell to Joe Markey, Kelleher, and Norman, but Thomas’s alert keeping prevented an equaliser.

As Paulton dominated, Hallen became more physical, with several players booked. In the dying minutes, Lewis Trueman received a second yellow card and was dismissed.

Despite applying lots of pressure, that elusive equaliser did not materialise.

Good luck to Hallen in the next round against Hartbury College.

Tony Walsh