PAULTON Rovers are out of the Isuzu FA Vase after losing 4-2 away to Portishead Town in the second round of the competition despite a late rally which followed a lacklustre first half performance.

Rovers opened brightly as Corey Rawlings found Milo Murgatroyd whose drive was blocked; then Dan Cottle and Kyle Simpson tested Potis keeper Finlay Croft. On 14 minutes and slightly against the run of play Rovers went behind - a Kyle Egan’s right wing corner was headed home by centre half Hamish Hurst.

The hosts began to dictate and Paulton keeper Dan Jackson made a series of fine saves from the lively Jack Murray and bustling striker Owen Punselle who later shot wide. As Rovers withstood a period of pressure Portishead made it 2-0 on 35 minutes as another Egan’s right wing corner was headed home by the former Tiverton Town player Murray.

There was further disaster for the visitors on the stroke of half time as Mitchell Osmond’s free kick on the left was not dealt with and defender Toby Lawrence drove the ball past Jackson to make it 3-0.

Paulton tried to get back in the game as Callum English-Brown fired wide before a series of substitutes attempted to give Rovers some fresh impetus

.However it was 4-0 on 52 minutes as Ethan Feltham played in Punselle who rounded Jackson to slot into the net.

On the hour mark Paulton started to get on top and were rewarded in the 62nd minute as Will Hailston’s corner on the right was powerfully headed home by Josh Ford.

Rovers piled on the pressure but found it difficult to break down the Portishead rearguard until on 81 minutes Hailston’s free kick on the left was headed back across goal by Simpson and headed past Croft by Ford to make it 4-2.

In the final minutes Leo Eglin and then Dan McBeam both had scoring chances but time ran out for Paulton.

This was a disappointing game to go out of the Isuzu FA Vase. No visit to Wembley this year!

Rovers will be back in action in the Premier Division of the Jewson Western League on Saturday, November 16, when they are at home toSaltash kick off 3-00 p.m. Player of the match: Jack Murray (Portishead Town).

Elsewhere, Jewson League premier division leaders Clevedon Town moved into the third round of the Vase with a 3-0 away win over Buckland Athletic.