Nick McCootie's early goal extends Paulton Rovers unbeaten league run
Report: Wimborne Town 0, Paulton Rovers 1
A first-minute goal from Nick McCootie was enough to extend Paulton Rovers' winning run to six league matches with a 1-0 win at Wimborne Town on Saturday.
Any concerns that the recent poor weather and lack of matches would disturb Rovers' good form were quickly dispelled as, from Town's kick-off, Ben Lacey volleyed a clearance forward, James Billing went for the header and the ball dropped to McCootie, whose 25-yard right-footed drive beat the desperate dive of home keeper Jason Harvell.
The visitors continued to dominate the early exchanges and Scott Brice won a header from Stuart Pearson's sixth-minute long throw but Rovers did not have a man on the back post and the ball was scrambled away.
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Two minutes later, Craig Loxton could not find the target from the edge of the box after good work from McCootie, Lacey and Marcus Mapstone.
The Town defence were struggling to cope with the pace and power of McCootie and only a fine save from Harvell prevented his second of the afternoon on 16 minutes.
The visitors should have doubled their lead a minute later when Stuart Tovey's throw-in was touched on to Loxton, whose snap-shot was well parried by Harvell. Lacey showed great composure to take the ball past the keeper and a defender, only for his shot to hit the post.
The home side gradually got into the game and on 28 minutes a free-kick from the right went beyond the far post to Tom Jeffes, who saw his volley well saved by Rovers keeper Kyle Phillips. Six minutes later Michael Hubbard sent over a corner and Jon Blake headed just wide.
Rovers went close again when a seemingly harmless ball down the left was collected by McCootie, whose change of pace took him clear. Harvell got a hand to the shot before Nathan Peprah-Annan cleared off the line.
Wimborne came out strongly after the break as Phillips saved from a Jeffes header and Adam Costello flashed his effort wide from a Hubbard free-kick. Rovers still carried a threat, though, mainly through the impressive McCootie, who sent a shot just wide following a Jack Allward free-kick.
The home side upped the pressure without really troubling the visiting defence and their frustration led to a booking for Blake for an aggressive challenge on Phillips.
Rovers weathered the storm and Lacey twice went on good runs but first his cross was well cut out at the near post and then his dipping shot went over. Meanwhile, Mapstone sent Billing clear but Harvell did well to parry his effort.
Wimborne pressed in the final minutes but solid defending, a fine save from Phillips to turn aside Hubbard's 35 yard free-kick and two poor corners ensured that Rovers held on.
The home side's disappointing afternoon was compounded with the sending off of Blake in injury time for a second yellow card.
Rovers' man of the match was McCootie.
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