Saturday 18 Dec. Southern League Div. One Paulton Rovers 3 – 0 Melksham Town
Town were looking to bounce back from last week’s defeat at home to Evesham when they travelled to Paulton.
But their opponents would be no easy test as they have had a knack for beating the teams above them, as well as having the league’s top scorer in their ranks. Manager Rich Fey was also to hand David Thompson his first start since his return to the club, with the rest of the starting XI being more familiar to recent weeks.
Despite Melksham’s habit of making a dominant start to the game, it was Paulton who raced into the lead in the 4th minute through Edward Butcher following a blistering counterattack. Then things went from bad to worse for Town as another counterattack saw Paulton double their lead on 10 minutes with their second attack of the game, this time Jack Ball got the goal for the home side.
Town then tried to get a grip on the game and came close to pulling a goal back when Jake Mawford’s cross deflected onto the post, then Dave Thompson saw a header saved from close range. Eventually Town did have the ball in the net, David Thompson managed to finish from close range following a freekick, but the linesman judged him to be in an offside position.
The second half began, and the two-goal deficit was still the situation for Town, however just 5 minutes into the second half it became a mountain to climb for Fey’s men. Ryan Morgan received a second yellow following a coming together in the Paulton box, much to the complaints of the Town players and fans alike. This also seemed to ignite a card-happy performance from the referee as he would go on to award 10 (ten) yellow cards throughout the afternoon.
With Town committing bodies forward still hopeful they can get something from the game, big spaces were left open at the back and Paulton exploited these and added a third in the 63rd minute through Leighton Thomas. This almost sealed the game for the hosts, and the game was put beyond any doubt when Melksham were reduced to nine men following a second yellow card for Ollie Webb.
The match ended 3-0 to the hosts who were clinical when they needed to be and earned themselves a deserved victory. Despite defeat, Town will be more than pleased with how they sit in the table with the halfway point approaching, and also with the quality of football they have displayed so far this season.
By Lewie Simmons.
