Reserves win again

Paulton Rovers Res 3 Glastonbury Town 0

Rovers continued their improve run of form by beating a plucky Glastonbury side who could easily have made life harder.

Indeed Rob Perry could have scored for the visitors after seven minutes had his header not been tipped around the post by Mark Bevan.

Paulton pressed for the opener, which eventually came in the 28th minute following a clearance by Town keeper Tom Bulmer.

It fell to player/manager Gareth Wright, who raced on to the ball to stroke it past the despairing Bulmer to make it 1-0.

Rovers increased the lead after 33 minutes when Ben Mines latched on to a deep free-kick by Nick Mansfield to head home.

The second half saw both keepers make several good saves – Bevan from an Aaron Wickham free-kick, and Bulmer kept Mines and then Wright from getting on the scoresheet.

Bulmer then pulled off the save of the match when Andrew Moore got around the back of the Glastonbury defence to see his shot stopped by Bulmer.

With 16 minutes remaining, Paulton made it 3-0 when combative midfielder Ian Kennedy won the ball and crossed from the left.

Sam Morgan headed the ball goalwards and captain Lewis Collier rammed the ball into the net.

Glastonbury then had their best period of the game, putting pressure on the Rovers defence.

A mixture of sound defending and man of the match Bevan commanding his goal area prevented them reducing the final score.

Paulton Rovers Res 3 Cutters Friday 1

Paulton approached the game seeking recompense for a defeat earlier in the season when a depleted Rovers side lost 6-3.

Gareth Wright's men did what they had failed to do in recent games and started well, dominating much of the possession and creating chances for the front pair of Wright and Morgan.

However, a defensive lapse from Collier allowed the Cutters attacker to give the visitors the lead against the run of play.

The game turned scrappy and Rovers stood strong against some tackles from Cutters which soon earned several yellow cards for fouls on the impressive Ian Kennedy, who controlled the midfield along side experienced skipper Ben Mines.

On 35 minutes, Rovers deservedly equalised when dead-ball specialist Nick Mansfield delivered a superb ball on to the head of Wright, who found the top corner from 10 yards.

Moore replaced the injured Poole at half-time and Rovers continued to press, aided by some solid defending from Reynolds, Pow, Collier and the tenacious Andrew Mills.

Rovers took the lead when Wright ran through and was fouled just inside the box, Mansfield making no mistake with the penalty.

With 15 minutes remaining, Rovers effectively killed the game off when a searching ball from Tony Pow found Mansfield, and his delivery was headed home by Wright.

Youth team player 16-year-old George Mitchell replaced Morgan and shot wide late on.

On Monday, Paulton Reserves host Nailsea United for a 7.30pm kick-off and admission is free.