In a quirk of the fixture list, the equivalent return game only occurred two weeks ago. Rovers came away with the points on that occasion. So, it was no surprise when Shepton flew out of the blocks in this latest encounter.

A competitive start saw Shepton gain the early momentum, as Luco Ponsillo’s dangerous run was halted by Rovers’ defender Braden Humphries. Shepton tried hard to progress but their forwards were caught offside by a well organised Rovers’ back line of Josh Ford, captain Jack Dancey, Jack Farion, and Humphries. A 25-yard Shepton free kick was struck well, but saved comfortably by Paulton goalie Dan Jackson.

It was somewhat against the run of play that, after 14 minutes, a left-sided free kick from Milo Murgatroyd was headed in at the far post by Ford to give Rovers the lead. It was a fine header from some distance out. The goal seemed to settle the Paulton players down and they started to pass and move with some authority.

Farion, Ford, Dancey and Humphries all showed excellent ball control and distribution, while Luke Ingram, Will Osborne and Kitan Jaiyeoba were keen to get on the ball and try to make things happen. Though Paulton were in the ascendancy, Shepton were still dangerous and Jackson had to push a shot from Ponsillo over the bar.

Corey Rawlings and Osborne saw their shots deflected for corners. From one of these, after 31 minutes, another towering header from Ford was kept out only for Osborne, following up, to fire the ball into the net for Rovers’ second.

Shepton rallied, and Josh Jenkins bundled the ball into the Rovers’ net to pull a goal back. Immediately though, following great play on the left by Rawlings and Kye Simpson, Osborne expertly hooked the ball into the net to restore Paulton’s advantage.

Shepton’s Jake Sloggett was ‘sin-binned‘ for dissent and Paulton ended the half on top. Ford’s downward header was well saved by Shepton keeper Sam Jepson and Kitan flashed a ball across the face of goal following a great cross field move.

Half time 3-1

The second half continued to be well fought and aggressive as Shepton tried hard to make inroads, but the Rovers defence, ably marshalled by Dancey, were disciplined and resilient. In midfield, Ingram, Osborne and substitute Sam Hill kept the ball moving. Kitan was felled by a nasty tackle and Jackson needed to pull off a terrific point blank save as a poor back pass gave a Shepton striker a chance.

The game became a midfield battle and yellow cards were regular, substitutions many. But the huff and puff was sprinkled by moments of real quality, such as Osborne’s delightful pass out to Rawlings, Farion’s vision through the lines and Ford’s control with the ball when moving forward.

After 74 minutes though, a fine Shepton passing move saw the ball fall to Jenkins, who rifled the ball past Jackson to score Shepton’s second. This caused the momentum to switch in Shepton’s favour. They laid siege to the Paulton goal and corner after corner was forced. Jackson pulled off a string of remarkable saves to preserve their hard-earned advantage.

Shepton’s goalie Jepson was penalised for handling the ball outside his penalty area as the Mallet’s frustration intensified. In a rare breakaway, Simpson, who’d worked hard all game, had the opportunity to settle the nerves, but somehow miscued when through on goal.
The Paulton faithful, breathless, nerves jangling, trooped home dreaming of Wembley.

Man of the match: Dan Jackson – tremendous agility, fantastic saves and constant prompting.