PAULTON Rovers went down 3-2 to league strugglers, Torpoint, after their keeper made a string of fine saves, including three from penalties!

A truly bizarre game that was sometimes tetchy, began with both teams struggling to find a rhythm on the heavy surface but Rovers looked dangerous early on when a Kye Simpson cross was intercepted by Torpoint’s keeper and man of the match, Ryan Rickard.

Torpoint began to hustle Rovers into mistakes though and gained the early upper hand. In the 6th minute, Will Sullivan made a weaving run from the corner flag area before unleashing a shot that deflected and wrong footing Dan Jackson in the Rovers goal.

The goal gave Torpoint further confidence and they began to control the play.The second came for the hosts in the 22nd minute when a mistake at the back allowed Curtis Damerell to calmly lob the ball over Jackson into the net.

The visitors were stung and began to wrestle some control back now pressing Torpoint into mistakes. In the 27th minute Rovers forced a corner which was only partially cleared. Milo Murgatroyd volleyed a shot towards goal which was deflected up and over Rickard and into the net.

The game was now nearly all Rovers as they pressed for the equaliser. Chances came for Will Hailston, Kye Simpson and Milo Murgatroyd but Rickard was equal to them all. In the 40th minute, Hailston was desperately unlucky as he saw a shot from close range strike the foot of the post and away to safety.

In the 40th minute, Rovers had their chance to equalise when Kye Simpson was chopped down in the box. The tackle was well off the ball and there was much surprise when a straight red didn’t come for the Torpoint player. Dan McBeam stepped up but Rickard pulled off the first of his three penalty saves. McBeam couldn’t follow up on the rebound but the ball fell to Will Hailston to tuck it away. However, he was adjudged to have been offside, again, much to the surprise of the Rovers players and supporters.

Somehow Rovers were behind at half time.The second half began in much the same fashion with Rovers dominating the ball and Torpoint happy to counter which they did to good effect. In the 52nd minute, Murgatroyd went close again after beating two men before curling in a shot destined to hit the back of the net. However, Rickard produced a finger tip save to keep the ball out.

A chance fell for Dan McBeam but he sliced it wide before Rovers won a second penalty after a Torpoint defender handled in the box. This time Will Hailston stepped up and again Rickard could not be beaten.

Moments later it was worse for Rovers as Torpoint countered allowing James Rowe to poke home a cross.Rovers continued to press forward and hope seemed to arrive when Billy Padfield was hauled down in the box for a third penalty in the 76th minute. Jack Farion stepped up to take and hit the ball sweetly but Rickard again produced an incredible save

Hope did arrive in the 81st minute when more good work from Milo Murgatroyd allowed him to cross the ball for Kye Simpson to nod in. Rovers pushed to grab an equaliser but Torpoint held out for an unlikely win.