Paulton Rovers Lose Out to Late Bath Goal Burst

Pitching In Southern League Division One South club Paulton Rovers found Vanarama National League South side Bath City just a little too much for them on Tuesday evening in the final of the Somerset Premier Cup at Weston-super-Mare’s Optima Stadium.

Bath, whose victims to reach the final included Paulton’s league rivals Larkhall Athletic and Frome Town, fielded a full-strength team and had the majority of the early play.

But it was City’s keeper Max Harris who was the first to be called into action when he prevented Jack Fillingham from getting in a shot from an Ed Butcher cross.

And then, on 11 minutes, Paulton shocked the Step 2 club’s fans in the crowd by taking the lead when Leo Eglin’s ball into the box found Butcher, who finished coolly past Harris.

Bath responded well though and a terrific piece of defending from Neil Martin prevented Opi Edwards from levelling.

Fillingham was denied by Harris on the break before Bath did get back on level terms 3 minutes before half-time when Chris Lines` corner was headed past Rovers` keeper Aaron Sainsbury by Dan Hayfield.

And it was Sainsbury who helped take his side into the break all-square when he pulled off a fine save from Kieran Parselle in first half injury-time.

The second half saw Bath on the front foot without managing to create any decent chances.

That was until the 80th minute when a direct Hayfield free-kick beat Sainsbury to make it 2-1.

As stoppage time ticked in – and with Paulton on the attack looking for an equaliser – Bath made it 3-1 when substitute Luke Spokes set up Scott Wilson to beat Sainsbury.

And seconds later it was 4-1, this time it was Spokes with a fine finish.

The final scoreline was rather harsh on Paulton as they gave as good as they got for the majority of the final.