Dominant Paulton march on

Manager Dave Neil was please to see a greatly improved Paulton display to come through the first round of the Somerset Floodlit League Cup.

This local derby against Bishop Sutton was at time a tempestuous affair with the visitors having two players sent off.

Paulton scored in the second minute when a right wing corner from Ben Lacey was headed powerfully home by Steve Marren.

Two minutes later they made it 2-0 when a defensive muddle saw Lacey win the ball and slot the ball into the net from ten yards.

Sutton's first real attempt at goal not until the eighteenth minute when striker Sam Skidmore headed over the bar.

Lacey nearly made it three for the home side when pressuring defender Ashley Tarring headed powerfully back but keeper mike Britton held the ball well..

 The visitors now had a period of sustained pressure, first a curling shot from Tom Kew flew over the bar. Then they had a series of corners one of which Skidmore headed home only to be disallowed for a push on home keeper Phil Smale.

On the stroke of half time Rovers saw a shot from Rob Banfield blocked then another from Tom Evans go narrowly wide.

The start of the second half saw Sutton have a goal disallowed for offside and another shot cleared off the line. The cool defending particularly by Jamie Croydon was essential at that point.

From then on it was Paulton who seized the initiative with bright prospect Ben Lacey creating chance after chance for he and his  tea mates. Britton saved from captain Josh Harrington  after Lacey had set him up. The his left wing cross was met by Sam Morgan only for Britton to make a point blank save. This was followed by Lacey splitting the Sutton defence to send Harrington down the left wing, but his pass to Dan Flower found the substitute offside.

Sutton pulled one back in the sixty sixth minute when a speculative shot from Josh Carter was spilled by Smale to make it 2-1.

A minute later Paulton restored the two goal advantage when Banfield played the ball to Plower who split the visiting defence for Lacey to run on and slip the ball under Britton.

There had been signs of growing indiscipline by some of the tackles from both sides, but whilst Rovers manager Neil demanded calmness from his charges, it would have been wise of the visitors to take off Aaron Allen at that point. Having already been booked earlier his reckless challenge left referee Mark Box little alternative to show a second yellow and send him from the field.

With a man advantage Rovers could have increased the lead when Flower saw two shots well saved by Britton and one hit the post. Just before Ben Bammant had likewise hit the Paulton post.

With two minutes left the Sutton skipper Sam Teal was shown a straight red card for deliberate foul play  bringing down Harrington, but the referee might take note of the remarks directed at him by the player as he was dismissed from the field of play.

Neil can be proud of the 3-1 scoreline and look forward to the draw for the next round.

Paulton: Phil Smale, Drew Mills, Dex Neil, Tom Evans, Rob Lidford, Jamie Croyden, Steve Marren (sub-81 Tom Rideout), Rob Banford, Ben Lacey, Sam Morgan (60 Dan Flower), Josh Harrington.

THE BRITISH GAS BUSINESS YOUTH CHALLENGE CUP

SEASON 2008/2009

The First Round Groups have been drawn and are set out below:

 GROUP A

Arlesey Town

Rothwell Town

Woodford United

Bury Town

GROUP B

Romulus

Banbury United

Chasetown

Bromsgrove Rovers

Malvern Town

GROUP C

AFC Totton

Andover

Farnborough

Gosport Borough

Winchester City

GROUP D

Mangotsfield United

Clevedon Town

Paulton Rovers

Merthyr Tydfil

What a pity on only eighteen clubs out of 66 BGB clubs have entered. Relects on how seriously clubs like ours beleive in youth football. Each year at least one player has progressed through the reserves and       made it to the first team.

 All matches are to be completed by Friday 23^rd January 2009. Matches are to be played on a League basis, with fixtures both home and away against each opponent and all matches are to be played midweek.