Thursday 6th April 2006
Southern League Division One West
Paulton Rovers 0  Bromsgrove Rovers 2
Courtesy of the Bromsgrove Advertiser

Two clinical strikes by Neil Davis ensured ruthless Rovers did the double over Paulton in Somerset on Thursday night. Davies showed his predatory instincts with a goal in each half to make it two wins in a row for resurgent Rovers.

The former Aston Villa striker has been the antidote to Rovers' goal scoring problems. His deadly double against Paulton made him Rovers' top scorer with 11 goals. James Smith's sending off near the end made sure Rovers endured an uncomfortable end to the game.

Referee Mr Beal also got card happy, brandishing ten in all despite being little in the way of incident.

Manager Rod Brown made seven changes from the side that defeated Thame two days before. Delton Francis, Lee Evans, John Snape, Mark Benbow and Exodus Geohaghan joined Davis.

The visitors took control of the game from the start and pushed Paulton back. Kevin Banner saw his low shot pushed away by goalkeeper John Rendall in the second minute but Richard Perry directed a volley wide in the fifth. Banner and Davis combined down the left and Riad Erraji volleyed the striker's left wing cross over the bar.

Bromsgrove continued to look dangerous and Davis confirmed the threat when he opened the scoring in the eighth minute. Benbow won a challenge in midfield and the ball fell to Davis, who was lurking on the edge of Paulton's box. The striker turned and unleashed a shot that looped into the top left-corner.

Evans then had to tip Andy Catley's dangerous cross over. Dean Evans also fired in a powerful shot in the 20th minute but it flew past the left right post. Phil Male cleared Sean Seavill's shot off the line in the 25th minute. Mark Benbow missed a gilt-edge chance to score in the 27th minute. Smith sent in a looping cross that deceived Rendall but Benbow headed wide at the far post.

Referee Mr Beal, who was over-officious throughout booked Smith after he retaliated when Catley barged into him. The home side applied pressure right from the start of the second half but Davis bagged his second against the run of play. Banner's cross ricocheted off Ben Cleverley and Davis pounced to make it 2-0 in the 59th minute.

Substitute Luke Reynolds was denied by Lee Bryant's sliding tackle as he powered towards Paulton's goal. Rovers had looked comfortable until Smith was harshly shown a second yellow card for throwing the ball away in the 78th minute. Rovers were let off the hook when Dan Cleverley sent in a good early cross but Ashley Barnes blasted over.

Rovers: Evans, Smith, Williams, Male, Geohaghan, Snape (Johnson), Erraji, Benbow, Davis (Dyer), Francis (Reynolds), Banner.

Paulton: Rendall, Perry, B Cleverley, Bunyard, Kilgour, Tovey, Catley (Barnes), Harrington, Seavill, D Cleverley (Bryant), Evans.

Referee: Mr G Beal
Attendance: 122