PAULTON Rovers gained a 5-1 home win over a youthful Welton Rovers' side in a local derby in the Premier Division of the Jewson Western Football League on a very cold evening at The Winterfield Stadium.

From the off, Rovers were on the front foot as they pushed forward trying to grab the opener but it took until the 10th minute for the first good chance to fall. From a throw-in deep in the Welton half, the

visitors pushed back Rovers but the hosts kept the ball well and worked it back out to the right where Dan McBeam combined with Milo Murgatroyd to open up the Welton defence. McBeam still needed to beat two defenders before curling a shot with the outside of his boot and into the net.

The second came three minutes later when the Welton defence failed to clear the the ball. Man of the match, Dylan Gould set up the movel and found Milo Murgatroyd in the box and he calmly lobbed the ball past the keeper.

The rest of the half was comfortable for Paulton as they pushed for a third. Welton rarely troubled the Rovers defence but did grab a couple of shots from distance - one that flew straight into Dan Jackson's arms and another that went over the bar. Paulton themselves went close twice more as Josh Ford forced a save from his header and Kye Simpson flashed a shot just wide after some nifty footwork took him past a Welton defender.

Paulton opened the second half looking to put the game to bed, but got sloppy in the 53rd minute and conceded a corner. Joe Kemmery nodded in at the near post to give Welton some hope.

But five minutes later, the home side extended their lead and extinguished any chance of a Welton revival. Again from a corner, Dylan Gould looped in a cross that captain Jack Dancey headed in at the far post.

Dan Jackson was tested soon after when he had to stop a blistering low shot from the edge of the box. But it was the last time that Welton really threatened the goal.

Paulton scored their fourth when George Fowler robbed a Welton defender on the right-hand side of the box and fed it to Will Hailston who dribbled past a defender before curling a shot around the Welton keeper. The fifth came in added time when Chris Peck found Corey Rawlings on the edge of the box. Rawlings took a touch setting the ball up nicely to hit a high volley that looped over the keeper and just under the crossbar.

With a couple of assists and a solid performance in midfield, Dylan Gould was Man of the Match (sponsored by CFH Doc).

Jon Green