Paulton took an early lead in this game when terrific wing play by Will Harvey, twisting and turning, released Ed Butcher whose cross deceived Adam Seedhouse-Evans in the Bideford goal and was headed in at the far post by James Byrne.

Paulton Rovers 3 Bideford AFC 2

Bideford responded well, but great headed clearances by Neil Martin and Mike Ilea denied them any clear chances.

Rovers played a high line, catching the tall Devon forwards offside a number of times, but Rovers goalkeeper Aaron Sainsbury was forced to save at the feet of Kai Fisher. Sainsbury was then glad to see a fierce shot from Bideford’s Louis Jagger Cane fly narrowly wide.

In the twenty first minute, Ilea was penalised for a foul in midfield. With the referee unaware, Bideford took the free-kick quickly, and before the whistle. The ball was played out to the wing and Javan Wright scored with a cross shot to equalise. The Paulton players and staff were incensed, but the goal was allowed to stand.

Rovers survived a succession of Bideford corners and a near miss as Fisher’s shot somehow cleared the bar from virtually on the goal line. Then from another free-kick, at least two Bideford forwards appeared to be offside as Fisher forced the ball home to put the away team in the lead.

This unsettled the Paulton players, but composed play by Chris Peck and Nuno Felix regained the initiative and, as the first half drew to a close, Ed Butcher restored parity in the forty fifth minute, as he chose his spot and shot decisively past the Bideford goalkeeper.

Rovers began the second half on the attack as Paulo Borges raced on to a Kyle Tooze through ball but was narrowly offside.

Then, in the fifty fifth minute, Bideford centre forward Fisher was sent off, following an incident away from the play, but seen by the assistant referee.

Play became scrappy as Paulton failed to make the most of their numerical advantage and too many hopeful high balls were played towards forward players. But some industrious play by Peck set up Borges to send in a cross, which Leo Eglin fired over the bar.

Butcher and Byrne also had crosses unconverted but then in the 85th minute, Harvey, showing great skill, fashioned a cross which substitute David O’Hare headed powerfully in to make the score 3-2 to the home side.

Rovers then easily saw out the game and even looked likely to add to their lead as Tooze and Butcher both had shots well saved by Seedhouse-Evans.

The match was not a bad tempered affair, but some wayward decisions by the officials unsettled both sets of players.

Paulton man of the match: Mike Ilea – powerful headed clearances to deny a difficult opponent.

Noel Avis