Brandon Barnes' brace helps Paulton Rovers to defeat North Leigh
Match report: Paulton Rovers 3, North Leigh 1
Paulton Rovers moved back into the Evo-Stik League Division 1 South & West play-off places with a deserved victory over North Leigh on Saturday.
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Brandon Barnes, right, scored twice for Paulton on Saturday
The visitors began the brighter and top-scorer John Mills spurned a chance to open the scoring in the first minute when he fired wide after good work from John Else.
Rovers' first chance came on 11 minutes after a good move that saw Nick McCootie lay the ball off to Craig Loxton, whose initial shot was well saved by Sam Warrell before his follow-up effort hit the post.
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McCootie led the line well and set up Loxton for another chance on 25 minutes but his shot was deflected into the side-netting and Scott Brice headed wide from the resulting corner.
North Leigh's attacks were now few and far between, although Else did well to cut inside before shooting over the bar on 27 minutes.
Rovers went close six minutes later when Josh Jeffries was brought down just outside the area and Brandon Barnes' free-kick was pushed away by Warrell. Loxton's corner then found Brice at the far post but his downward header was again saved by the athletic keeper.
The home side had a let-off on 37 minutes when Marcus Mapstone conceded a free-kick 30 yards out and Else' delivery found Stuart Hole, whose shot on the stretch hit the side-netting.
Rovers broke the deadlock two minutes before the break when Loxton and substitute Charlie Rich combined for Barnes to shoot across the keeper and into the bottom corner.
The lead was doubled three minutes after the interval in bizarre fashion as Stuart Tovey's pass down the line found Loxton, who twisted and turned before launching the ball into the box, and it curled over Warrell and into the far corner.
McCootie went close with a free-kick after Jeffries had been impeded, while Barnes had a shot deflected into the side-netting as the home side grew in confidence.
North Leigh brought on Brian Bowles to play down the right and he immediately caused the home defence problems, first firing across goal and then shooting straight at home keeper Kyle Phillips.
Rovers responded as Loxton's neat back-heel set up Barnes for a shot from a narrow angle that Warrell blocked, while McCootie also had a shot saved.
Visiting substitute Ryan Brooks tested Phillips with a drive from outside the box but Rovers extended their lead in the 79th minute when McCootie went on a great run down the right before unselfishly squaring for Barnes to slot home.
The visitors reduced the arrears a minute later when Conor McDonough finished off a neat passing move but Rovers comfortable held on for victory.
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