PAULTON Rovers’ faint hopes of reaching the play-offs in the Premier Division of the Jewson Westrn Football League were dashed when they lost 2-1 away to Bridgwater United.

At the beginning of the afternoon, Bridgwater had endured a poor run of form that had seen them slip to fourth from bottom in the league table while Rovers had been on a better run of form that had seen them keep up hopes of achieving a spot in the playoffs. But to a neutral onlooker with no knowledge, you may have been fooled into knowing which team were which at times.

The opening twenty minutes saw Bridgwater with the lions share of possession creating a handful of half chances while Rovers toiled to find their front men with any meaningful attack. However, in the 25th minute, Rovers had the ball in the net when a long throw was helped on by Kye Simpson and forced over the line by Corey Rawlings. The linesman flagged for offside much to the bemusement of the visiting players and supporters.

Despite this setback, it inspired Rovers to pull their socks up and they began to come into the game more and in the 36th minute took the lead. Good work from Corey Rawlings on the right allowed him to cross the ball to Simpson who deftly turned his man to fire into the far corner.

Rovers were now much more in the game but the rest of the half played out without too much trouble for either keeper.

The second half began with Rovers looking far more purposeful with the front men now being found more regularly. Now it was Bridgwater who were looking to hit on the break and a good stop from Dan Jackson denied Noah Brown in the 50th minute.

Rovers continued to push so it was their turn to be shocked when Bridgwater broke free in the 61st minute to equalise. Kieran Ireland seemed to easily turn his man before laying the ball across to Morgan Williams to strike.

Just four minutes later, Rovers had the chance to regain the lead when Corey Rawlings chased down a ball he had no right to win. He stole it from the keeper but was shoved in the back by Jake Llewellyn. Llewellyn was excellent all game so it was a surprise that he gave away the penalty. Kye Simpson grabbed the chance for his second goal of the day but shot over the bar.

The game swung again and with their tails up, Bridgwater started to get on top once again. The hosts now looked the more likely to score and after a comedy of errors by the Rovers’ backline in failing to clear a ball, they did in the 85th minute. A ball that should have been cleared at least three times found its way out to the left and a low cross was poked in by Kieran Ireland.

Rovers could not respond and it was the hosts that came closest to scoring again before the end of the game. Although mathematically possible, Rovers chances of reaching the playoffs now seem to have gone.

Next games: Paulton Rovers v Oldland Abbotonians (A) - Friday 18th April - 3pm; POaulton Rovers v Welton Rovers (A) - Monday 21st April - 1pm.

Jon Green