GOALS from Kye Simpson and Milo Murgatroyd ensured ten-man Paulton Rovers took a point away from high flying Barnstaple Town in a 2-2 draw in the Premier Division of the Jewson Western League.

Barnstaple had most of the early possession but weren't really testing the Rovers defence and Rovers themselves were looking somewhat dangerous when breaking forward but also couldn't fashion a decent opening although Dan McBeam did pull a save from goalkeeper James Weeks.

It was against the run of play that the visitors took the lead in the tenth minute. Murgatroyd's shot from outside the box was spilled by Weeks and Simpson pounced to poke the ball home to get his 18th of the season.

Simpson nearly doubled Rovers lead in the 31st minute when he was put through one on one with the keeper but Weeks pulled out a great stop.

Weeks was involved again in the 39th minute in an incident that changed the game completely. Josh Ford was harshly adjudged to have ‘stamped’ on the keeper and was sent off.

Barnstaple now took the upper hand in the game and the barrage continued into the second half. However, Rovers did look dangerous when breaking as the hosts struggled to keep down Murgatroyd but too often there was a hasty pass that went astray.

The pressure finally told in the 66th minute when Joshua Parry jinked his way past a Rovers defender and put in another hopeful cross. In trying to chest the ball away to safety, Dan Dyke could only guide the ball past Dan Jackson in the Rovers goal.

With their tails up, the Barnstaple supporters sensed the winner was now going to come, but they were caught out only moments later when Corey Rawlings found Simpson who looped a perfect pass over the Barnstaple defence for Murgatroyd to run on to, round the keeper, and score.

The home team were now relentless in trying to get back into the game and went close twice before Murgatroyd was sent clear again in the 81st minute. He ran half the length of the pitch but Weeks was able to stop his shot.

Rovers were now trying to make use of every second. But they had their backs to the wall as the game moved into added time with an impossible victory actually seeming possible. But their hearts were broken when, in the 93rd minute, another cross from the left was turned in by Callum Deemer.