PAULTON ROVERS 4 BARNSTAPLE TOWN 3

A real thriller in the heavy rain saw Paulton edge their visitors from North Devon.

Elliot Gibbons had a great chase to put Rovers ahead in the fourth minute, but was adjudged to have simulated in the area.

Andrew Hannah in the home goal was twice alert to smother chances from Ryan Turner and Liam Gregory. However, Barnstaple took the lead on twenty minutes as a loose ball from Turner fell to Kyle Paine to drive home.

Sol Wheatley and Matt Benham sent Ryan Radford through, but his shot was underhit. On the half hour, Ryan Shaw made a great tackle to prevent Turner.

Rovers levelled on 39 minutes. Jordan Ricketts saw his shot turned for a corner by Town keeper, Steve Oliver. He took the corner on the left and Radford firmly headed home.

A minute later and Paulton were ahead as Matt Long set up Radford and his cross was turned into the net by Gibbons.

Wheatley made it 3-1 on 47 minutes as substitute, Mario Mateus, won the ball and Wheatley ran fully forty yards to beat Oliver.

Barnstaple made a sound response, adding a second after 58 minutes with Turner heading home from a free kick and then seven minutes later, equalised as Gregory found Niall Heaney, and his cross was stroked home by James Blake. Shortly afterwards, Jack Jenkins hit Hannah’s post.

Paulton battled and from Ricketts’ corner the ball cannoned off of Oliver and was turned home by Radford, with the assistant referee signalling the ball had crossed the goal line.

Hannah was on hand to snuff out Blake to see Rovers home.

Report by Tony Walsh