Paulton Rovers 0

Didcot Tn 0

Didcot failed to trouble the scorers for the third time in four league games, but this was a highly-entertaining Division 1 South & West encounter.

They began impressively, putting Rovers under pressure from the kick off, without producing many clear-cut chances.

Jack King's shot on 12 minutes was easily saved by Paulton keeper Dave Dyson, who was then called upon to make a great stop moments later from King's 20-yard effort.

Paulton's first opportunity came two minutes later as Chris Lane put Pete Sheppard clear, but he shot straight at Didcot keeper Michael Watkins.

It spurred the home side on, Lane going close to scoring on the half-hour as his shot clipped the bar with Watkins beaten.

At the other end, Richard Witt tested Dyson with a long-range effort.

Paulton debutant Jason Wood saw his far-post effort blocked, then the same player volleyed over the bar and Ross Casey headed wide from another corner.

On the stroke of half-time, another Lane cross was almost deflected in for an own goal, but somehow, the ball stayed out.

King tested Dyson again early in the second half and the busy Rovers keeper also had to tip a free-kick from Matt Bicknell over the bar after Rob Cousins was adjudged to have fouled Michael Bartley on the edge of the penalty area.

In a repeat of the first half, Bartley then failed to hit the target with a near-post header from a corner.

The closest the game came to a goal was midway through the second period as another Lane run ended with a pass to set-up Rob Claridge, but his shot was deflected onto a post by Watkins and the ball ran along the goal line before being scrambled to safety.

Bicknell and Andy Parrott both shot wide when well-placed for Didcot, and Sheppard failed to connect with yet another Lane cross.

A draw was the right result, although how neither side managed to produce a goal will remain a mystery.

Didcot: Watkins, Heapy, Bicknell (Powell 82), Williams, Peirson, Jack, Witt, King, Bartley, Parrott, Hope (Small-King 71). Subs not used: Davis, Lewis.

Attendance: 183