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| TAUNTON TOWN 0 PAULTON ROVERS 2 |
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| Written by Tony Walsh | |
| Sunday, 16 August 2009 | |
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Rovers season underway with 3 points FA Cup News
Rovers responded to last Saturday’s poor opening performance with a hard fought win at local rivals, Taunton. Their victory was built on a first half of superb attacking and a second half of resolute defence. In the 2nd minute Ollie Price’s back post header from a corner saw home keeper, Lloyd Irish punch the ball only as far as Ashley Caldwell and his volley went just wide of the post. Rovers front pairing of Chris Lane and Dan Cleverley caused the Taunton defence problems all night and in the 9th minute a fine run from Lane set a up chance for his skipper but again the shot went narrowly wide. John Harris had the host’s first chance on 17 minutes but he failed to hit the target with a volley and a similar fate befell Rovers’ Josh Jefferies barely a minute later.  All too often last season Rovers’ neat football and possession failed to produce goals but on 20 minutes they produced one of real quality! Lane went away down the left, cut inside and beat several challenges before laying the ball into the path of Caldwell whose 20 yard right foot shot flew into the top corner of the net. The lead was doubled 7 minutes later as a ball forward saw a Taunton defender head the ball back towards his keeper but Lane’s pace took him past two Town players and slip the ball past the keeper and into an unguarded net. Jefferies had a great chance to make it 3-0 minutes later but failed to get his header on target after more good work from Lane and Caldwell was denied a second when Lloyd Irish got down low to his left to make a good save. Rovers had an escape just before the interval as Alexis Piper’s free kick into the box found Twaine Plummer unmarked but he somehow failed to get a touch on the ball. The home side were much better in the second period and having had an escape early on when debutant Jon Jo O’ Hara almost scored with a volley from a corner that was somehow blocked, they proceeded to put Rovers under considerable pressure. On 53 minutes, Stephen Perrin, deputising for the injured, Kyle Phillips, pulled of a wonderful reflex save to deny John Harris and when the ball came back into the area the visitors were relieved to see Piper head over the bar. Town forced three successive corners as they sought to get back in the game but Rovers continued to look dangerous on the break. The home side thought they had pulled one back on 77 minutes with a close range effort from Danny Lane but once again Perrin somehow managed to keep the ball out. Rovers will take a great deal from this performance particularly from a resolute defence that saw a rare clean sheet as they travel again on Saturday, this time to Abingdon United. Rovers: Perrin. Tovey, Rich, O’Hara, Price, Cousins, Jeffries (Taylor 84 mins), Caldwell, Lane Cleverley (C), Barwood. Subs not used: Hulbet. Lacey, Milsom, Burchill Town: L Irish, Bailey, Anthony, Piper (Swaby 62 mins), O Irish, Clough (Short 85 mins), Lane, Harris (C), Plummer (L Irish 45 mins), Simpson, Rice  Star Man: Chris Lane (Rovers) Referee: Richard Corp Assts: Mike Hall / Robert Abrams Attendance: 170
FA CUP NEWS Paulton will play Bideford at Winterfield Road in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup on Saturday 29 August. Bideford travelled to Wellington on Saturday in the Pre Prelimimary Round which they won 3-1. |
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| Last Updated ( Saturday, 09 January 2010 ) |
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