Paulton Rovers v Barnstaple Town. Tuesday 21st March, 2017

Paulton 4 Barnstaple 3

We may be well in to March, but at Winterfield Road, home of Paulton Rovers, there were few signs of spring on this wild Tuesday night.

A lunch time pitch inspection had given the game the thumbs up, but as the rain lashed down as we drove south in to Somerset, Bryan and myself feared the worst.

Arriving at the ground just after 7.30, we were relieved to see our pal Ben outside the turnstiles who confirmed the games was on.

With both teams in lower mid table and probably safe from relegation, this had the look of a potential dead rubber and I worried we might witness a bit of a drab affair. As it turned out though, we would be treated to a seven goal thriller played at a high tempo, with plenty of full blooded tackles and a controversial winner to boot.
The game was a couple of minutes old as we came through the turnstiles and face to the face with the pitch. The entrance in to the ground is a lovely one. Having paid your money, you immediately find yourself at the top of a steep terrace in front of a goal. As the front row of the terrace is raised a couple of feet above the pitch, it means you are looking down at the action from a good height. The terrace was a fair size for this level (step 4) and covered with a metal roof painted in the club colour of maroon.

Paulton attack the raised terrace

Just as we entered, the home team had a penalty shout turned down in the goal mouth right in front of us with the ref seemingly of the opinion that there had been a dive in the box.
This was my first visit to watch Paulton Rovers and I was impressed with the set up. To our left as we came in was a big club house complete with two function rooms and a number of pool tables and a full size snooker table. On the same side of the pitch as the club house was two seated stands, one was a lovely looking raised stand, perched on top of some changing rooms. On the opposite side was a long and narrow terrace with brick benches built in to it, with a smart looking metal roof matching the one on the stand behind the goal. The only end to let the ground down a bit was behind the other goal, where there didn't seem to be anything other than a shiny metal fence.

Today's opposition, Barnstaple Town, had made the long trip up from North Devon. Under the management duo of Barry Yeo and Karl Baggaley, they are enjoying the most successful period in their history having enjoyed back to back promotions in the last two seasons, now finding themselves playing at their highest ever level. Paulton meanwhile were playing in the Southern Premier league until recently and reached the first round of the FA Cup in 2009/10. They generally have an impressive predigree for a team from a villiage, which although growing, still has a population of only about 5000.

It was the home team that made the early running, number 7, Sol Wheatley, was proving a threat down the right and managed to charge down the wing a number of times, sending in crosses that either just alluded the man in the box or didn't get the finish they deserved. 

Against the run of play though, Barnstaple scored with a well taken goal from striker, Kyle Paine.
Both teams were definitely up for it with a few tasty tackles flying in and it wasn't long before Paulton drew level from a corner from a header. Shortly after they were 2-1 up after Elliot Gibbons converted a cross.
By this time the rain had started coming down hard again and we sought refuge in the raised seated stand. Not only was the view great from up there, the wind sheilds on the sides and the generous protruding roof provided lots of shelter from the elements and it felt like we were watching the game from a cosy attic.

The rain continued to pour down at the break but lightened just in time for the restart. Almost straight away, Paulton extended their lead when Sol Wheately embarked on a run, starting not far in to the opposition half, he managed to power his way past numerous defenders, shrugging off challenges before he found him self in front of Oliver in the Barnstaple goal and easily able to fire past him.

Right about this time we walked round the pitch and took up a position in the terrace containing the dug outs (always a good place to watch from). Paulton's number one, the experienced Tony Ricketts, seemed pretty calm, though his side were 3-1 up. The Barnstaple bench was much more animated. Barry Yeo remained out of his seat issuing instructions as his team sought to get back in to the game. I was impressed with his approach, he was full of praise for his players and refrained from balling them out when they made a mistake, offering them encouragement and commending their effort instead. To their credit, Barnstaple started to come back in to it and were managing to enjoy more and more possession in the Paulton half.

They made it 3-2 when Ryan Turner headed home after a free kick from the left. Not long after they got a deserved equaliser when striker James Blake converted a cross from open play. From having been 3-1 down, Barnstaple were now looking for a winner and came very close from another free kick which led to Jenkins have his effort come back off a post.

The games most controversial moment came shortly after. Paulton had relieved a bit of pressure and won a free kick not far outside the Barnstaple box. A right foot effort came in on goal and was batted away at the near post by Oliver. From the resultant scramble, a shot came in from a tight angle from Radford which was seemingly cleared off the line. A second or so later however, the ref realised the linesman was signalling that the ball had crossed the line and awarded a goal. The Paulton players, none of whom I noticed celebrate or protest before that point, looked bemused and a bit embarrassed. After a couple of seconds they collectively decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth and ran back in to their own half to leave the Barnstaple players, whose bemusement had fast turned in to rage, confront the ref and linesman.

Yeo and lino in happier times. Before the 'ghost goal'

The goal rocked the away team. As much as Yeo implored them not to let the seeming injustice put them off, they looked less of a threat against a Paulton side reinvigorated by retaking the lead. There was still 20 minutes or so to go and whist Yeo continued to show unconditional positive regard for his players, it's safe to say the lino who gave the goal copped an earful. Unfortunately for him, the touchline he was patrolling was right infront of the dug outs which were themselves very tight to the pitch so he was regularly within spittle distance of the Barnstaple bench. He took the vow of silence approach. Probably the right thing to do. He seemed an old wily thick skinned campaigner but i was left pondering, not for the first time this season, who on earth would be a ref or linesman?

Barnstaple bench and players in shock.

Paulton managed to hold on for the victory, repelling the increasingly direct Barnstaple attacks and managing to get the ball in to the corners and keep it there. On the final whistle it was heartening to see the ref stick up for his mate, the three officials huddled together in the middle of the pitch and the ref politely and repeatedly implored the Barnstaple management to "go away" as they came over to vent their frustration. 

Another very enjoyable game in the Southern League Div One South and West.