Frustrated Paulton returned empty-handed from a 480-mile round trip to Suffolk, despite a brave comeback from a 2–0 half-time deficit.
Chances came and went from both sides. Colchester United's Conor Hubble found Tom Winter, who fired over the crossbar. Rovers' response was Jon Davies laying the ball into the path of centreback, Ashley Williams, who likewise shot too high and over. On 24 minutes, Paulton keeper, Kyle Phillips, made a great save from Gareth Heath to turn the ball for a corner.
From the inswinging corner on the right taken by leftback, Stuart Boardley, Leiston went ahead as
Captain, Joe Jefford, headed home. Rovers' undoing was having no player on the left-hand post. Ten minutes later, it looked as though the visitors had equalised. Brandon Barnes sped down the left wing, cut inside and shot across goal. With keeper, Danny Gay, beaten, the ball hit the foot of the right post and bounced out.
Rovers were to rue that chance, as it was 2–0 after 42 minutes when Kyle Phillips lost the ball after a high
speculative lob into the area seemed to leave him in two minds and Tom Winter tapped home.
Paulton came out a different side for the second half. Ollie Knowles had a shot deflected for a corner and Jon Davies tested Gay. Brandon Barnes pulled one back, hitting home a piledriver on 55 minutes. Davies found Barnes popping up on the right. His first shot was blocked and the ball fell perfectly for him to volley past Gay.
Paulton were in dominant mood now and Barnes was narrowly wide with Davies and Dean Evans bringing saves from Gay. Rovers
deservedly levelled after 64 minutes when Scott Wilson, Davies and Barnes linked up and Evans was on hand to turn the ball home.
However, Leiston hit a lucky winner three minutes later when Conor Hubble's weak shot hit Leon Ottley-Gooch on the backside and deflected into the net past a despairing Phillips.
Phillips smothered the ball after it bobbled around in the area, with Ottley-Gooch looking as if he was going to add to his tally. Paulton tried everything to get back with Knowles, Wilson and Evans going close and Barnes firing wide. Winter hit a drive across goal after being set up by Hubble.
Man of the Match was Brandon Barnes (Paulton Rovers). Good luck to Leiston for the next round of the FA Trophy. This Saturday, Paulton are home to Banbury United in the Evostik Southern
Premier League, kick-off at 3 p.m. On Tuesday, 25th November, Cambridge City are the visitors in the rearranged Southern League Premier Cup game, kick-off at 7.30 p.m. The Red Insure Cup game at home to Frome Town takes place on 2nd December, with the sides meeting again in the league at Frome on 10th December.