PAULTON Rovers swept into the semi-finals of the Somerset Premier Cup with a comfortable 2-0 home victory over Nailsea & Tickenham on a drizzly Tuesday evening.

With two disappointing league results last week, Ray Johnston took the chance to rotate his squad for this cup match giving time for some players to show what they can do. Right from the off, Rovers took control of the game and got the first major chance in the 6th minute when a powerful run by Dan McBeam ended up with a Nailsea defender defecting the ball towards the goal with Jason Mellor having to make a diving save to stop an own goal.

Rovers upped the pressure over the following minutes winning several corners and Corey Rawlings having a powerful shot blocked close to goal. The opener came in the 17th minute when Rawlings found McBeam whose quick feet opened up the space to unleash a shot from outside the box that gave the keeper no chance.

After the goal, the game became somewhat scrappy with a number of niggly fouls preventing any momentum for either team. Rovers still had the majority of the ball but Nailsea did create a few chances on the break but Dan Jackson wasn't needed to pull off any spectacular stops.

As the half-time whistle went there appeared to be an off the ball incident between Nailsea's Owen Humphries and Rovers' Wayne Nderemani. Humphries was shown a straight red in the melee that followed.

With a man advantage, Rovers continued into the second half with the majority of the possession but did not really create much in the way of goalmouth action as the visitors defence remained stubborn.

It took until the 68th minute for the first major chance when Corey Rawlings cut-in from the left and fired just over from the edge of the box.

The following minutes saw the introduction of Etienne Norman and George Stevens from the under 18 team, both coming on and performing well for the remainder of the game.

Nailsea had a short spell of pressure towards the end of the game but the Rovers defence stood firm.The game was sealed in added time when Rovers won a free kick just outside the Nailsea box. Will Hailston seemed to easily pick out Kye Simpson in the box who turned his man and slotted the ball into the net.

With an excellent goal and good all round performance, Dan McBeam was the man of the match. The award was presented by sponsor Jon Filer of JMF Plastering.

In the only game played in the Premier Division of the Jewson Western League played on the same night Street gained a 3-0 home win over Oldland Abbotonians to go third in the table.

Jon Green