Rovers ease to victory

REPORT BY TONY WALSH

In front of a healthy crowd Paulton beat neighbour's Radstock Town to keep alive their chance of being league champions.

Despite being a local derby both sides were intent on playing good football from the opening exchanges.

Paulton opened the scoring in the nineth minute when Josh Harrington crossed from the left and Dan Flower slotted home. Moments later Sam Farmer bore down on the Town goal but his shot was wide.

Flower should have done better in the twentieth minute when put through by Rob Banfield, but in the next attack Flower headed into the path of Ben Lacey who promptly made it 2-0.

Radstock hit back with a shot on the run from right back Connor Gregory then Josh Lines headed wide from a cross by Gregory.

The midfield for Paulton were dominating play with the influential Drew Mils breaking up the opponents attacks and starting the constant treat from Rovers.

Lacey made it 3-0 from the penalty spot on fifty one minutes after he was brought down by Radstock keeper Chris Wright who was booked for the clumsy challenge.

On the hour Farmer hit a centre come shot from the right wing which Wright brilliantly tipped onto the bar and the ball was cleared to safety. In the next attack Farmer crossed for Lacey to half volley on the turn into the net to give him his hat trick and make it 4-0 to his side. 

Lacey who has scored over thirty league and cup goals is the Somerset Floodlit League leading scorer was then substituted by Jack Mounty. 

In the last five minutes Mounty's pass to Tom Evans saw him score his first goal this campaign to make it 5-0 to Paulton and completed the rout.

Radstock battled hard a deserved to be on the score sheet. However they were thwarted by a resolute defence well marshaled by six foot four centre half Rob Lidford and in man of the match Drew Mills, Paulton had a player who broke up attacks and set up play for his team mates to pressurise the visitors time and time again.

Lacey has now scored seven goals against Radstock hitting four in the the reverse fixture last week when Rovers won 4-2.

Teams-

Paulton Rovers-Dan Nolan, Drew Mills, Dex Neil, Tom Evans, James Hailston, Rob Lidford, Sam Farmer, Rob Banfield, Ben Lacey (sub-Dan mott 62 mins), Dan Flower (Jack Mounty 69), Josh Harrington (Sam Morgan 68)

Subs not used-Jamie Rothwell & Phil Smale

Radstock Town-Chris Wright, Connor Gregory, Dan Hunt (sub-Lewis Cox 62), luke Turvey, Jack Williams (Ted Green 68), Jordan Brian, James Noad, Liam Gregory, Shaun Green, Luke Derrick, Josh Lines

Next Wednesday 8 April Rovers are home to Larkhall Athletic kick off 7-30 p.m. and the following Tuesday 14 April away to league leaders Winscombe kick off 7-45 p.m.