Under the floodlights and pouring rain, Paulton Rovers hit five past Portishead Town to take victory against a five game winless run in the Jewson Western League Premier Division.
After the events of Saturday led to the abandonment of Rovers’ game against Clevedon, where winger Kitan Jaiyaboa suffered a serious injury, one would forgive the team for being a bit off colour heading into this match.
However, signs were positive from the offset with Milo Murgatroyd and new signing Callum English-Brown causing Portishead issues from the start.
Rovers’ first major shot came in the 19th minute when a cross from Callum Rawlings fell to Murgatroyd, but his shot was well parried by opposition goalkeeper Finlay Croft, whilst Paulton goalkeeper Dan Jackson was also being challenged by a stinging shot that was parried around the post..
.png?width=209&height=140&crop=209:145,smart&quality=75)
The opener came for Rovers in the 22nd minute as another cross from Rawlings was initially punched away by the Portishead goalkeeper, though only to Will Hailston, who was closing him down.
Hailston placed the ball into the net from close range, and that goal would be the catalyst to give Rovers the upper hand. This was emphasised when a Portishead player was sin binned for dissent.
The hosts doubled their lead in the 32nd minute when a cross from the right met Hailston, who played it back to Murgatroyd who curled the ball into the top corner.
Portishead pulled a goal back going into half time, though Paulton were immediately able to respond, with Rawlings latching onto a pass from Chris Peck, then poking the ball onto English-Brown, who put the ball under the keeper.
Things went from bad to worse for Portishead as goalscorer Ethan Feltham would receive a second yellow right before half time.
Despite being a man down and two goals behind, Portishead were able to reduce the goal deficit to one after scoring in the 52nd minute. However, hopes of a comeback were dashed following a flurry of quick goals from English-Brown and Murgatroyd to make it 5-2.
The game became a bit more disjointed after that, and that would be the last of the goals scored.
Man of the match went to debutant Callum English-Brown, and the result gives Paulton some momentum heading into local derbies against Radstock in the FA Vase on Saturday, October 19, and Shepton Mallet in the Les Phillips Cup on Tuesday, October 22.