Report by Noel Avis of Paulton Rovers

Paulton Rovers, having not kicked a ball for three weeks, were eager to continue their four game winning run. They got off to a fantastic start as captain Nuno Felix strode forward in the second minute and fired a shot which Ed Brearey in the Evesham goal could only push past the post. Felix himself met David O’Hare’s corner, glancing a header into the net to give Rovers an early lead.

Evesham came back strongly and their tricky wingers, Jordan Lymn and Ethan Moran were causing problems for the Paulton defenders. Aaron Sainsbury in the Paulton goal saved well from Lymn and then acted as a sweeper to beat onrushing Evesham forwards to the ball.

Both teams showed attacking intent. Sainsbury comfortably fielded a drive by Evesham’s Elliott Keightley, while Paulton’s Ed Butcher and Will Hailston combined well on the left enabling Butcher to flash a great cross which Joe Morgan, Gascoigne like, just failed to reach.

Then after 26 minutes, Evesham equalised as Lymn put in a dangerous cross which Mike Ilea, under great pressure from United’s Kyle Belmonte, unfortunately turned into his own net.

Evesham were gaining some control and Rovers’ defenders Felix, Nick Hewlett, Dan Dempsey and Ilea had to show their unity, skill and composure to tackle, intercept and head their way out of trouble. Behind them, Sainsbury looked as assured as ever.

As half time approached, Butcher received lengthy treatment for an injury from an off the ball incident which went unpunished.
Evesham’s clever playmaker, Moran, ensured that United kept up the momentum into the second half and Sainsbury had to save from Belmonte while another effort flew over the bar. The game became very open, and opportunities were created at both ends, but another enterprising run and cross from Butcher saw the ball ricochet out to Hailston, who volleyed the ball past Brearey to restore Paulton’s lead.

Rovers were dominating at this point and great interplay between Hewlett and Morgan saw the centre forward’s shot scrambled away for a corner. However, in the 62ndminute Evesham equalised again as a cross from Dan Djurovic was headed goalwards.  Sainsbury pulled off a magnificent save, but was unable to stop Lymn following in to gobble up the rebound.

Both teams continued to push forward, with Evesham’s captain Adam Mace and full back Mike O’Regan joining in their attacks. For Paulton, Dan McBeam and Hailston showed great skill and creativity, often drawing illegal challenges. A flurry of substitutions were made and a thoroughly entertaining match between two evenly matched teams was resolved when, in the 78th minute, Rovers took the lead once more. Ed Butcher, cutting in from the left, suddenly struck a brilliant cross shot from 25 yards. Brearey in the Evesham goal stood helpless as it flew into the net. It was another trademark Butcher finish.

United tried hard to respond and Sainsbury needed to make a fine save from Evesham substitute Ricky Johnson’s low shot. The Paulton faithful, enduring an inexplicable eight minutes of extra time, had watched Rovers extend their winning run to five.

Editor note: report had Knowles scoring it was Lymn.