PAULTON Rovers deservedly won away from home for the first time since August when they defeated Ilfracombe Town 3-1 in Devon in the Premier Division of the Jewson Western League.

A game of two halves’ is a phrase often used in football and quite rightly could be used again for this game. The first half had very little action as the referee punished virtually any contact between players. Subsequently, the game stuttered around the midfield with nether team able to create a decent opening.

The second half was a different affair. Right from the kickoff, Rovers looked to have more purpose and were quickly on the attack. Kye Simpson picked up the ball on the right and flashed a ball across goal only to have it cut out before it could reach the feet of Corey Rawlings.

Rawlings was involved again in the 58th minute as the ball fell to him in the box. He lashed it on only to find the linesman had flagged him offside.But he only had to wait two minutes before his chance came again. Kitan Jaiyeoba, making his first start since his horrific injury, picked up the ball near the half way line and made a great run, turning his man before getting a shot away. It was parried by the keeper but only fore the waiting Rawlings who made no mistake.

Rovers had started to get on top of the game and in the 65th minute grabbed the second when Sam Hill found Rawlings in the box and after turning his man brilliantly, finished past the keeper.

The referee had continued to be picky, giving soft decisions for both teams and in doing so had started to get the players tetchy. Rovers were well on top and restricted Ilfracombe as they tried to get back into the game but the play, like the first half, had become broken again. This suited Rovers somewhat as they were able to sit on the lead.

There was still some late drama to come though as in added time, Ilfracombe won a corner which was swung in and missed by Dan Jackson in the Rovers’ goal and somehow ended up in the back of the net. The visitors supporters held their collected breath as they contemplated a much needed away win being snatched away from them so late in the game.

But they only needed to wait a matter of seconds before the win was assured as three substitutes combined to grab the third. Good work from Dan McBeam found Will Hailston who calmly rolled the ball into the path of Milo Murgatroyd who found the corner of the net. A much improved second half performance gave Rovers their first three league points away since August.