Southern Thomas scores all four in Paulton victory
FOUR goals from Paulton Rovers striker Leighton Thomas secured a 4-2 Division One South victory against Mangotsfield United at Cossham Street.
The hosts took a 12th minute lead as Kyle Simpson scored on his return to the club from Chipping Sodbury. However, Rovers levelled barely a minute later as Thomas headed home Ed Butcher’s corner from the right.
Simpson had two efforts easily held by Paulton goalkeeper Aaron Sainsbury, then a neat move involving Paulton’s James Byrne and Adam Kelly saw Dave O’Hare head wide.
Two minutes before half-time, Kelly’s free-kick on the left was headed home by Thomas.
Shortly after the restart, Mangotsfield stopper Jakob Glover saved with his feet as O’Hare met a cross from Thomas.
Thomas scored his hat-trick on 66 minutes when he converted a penalty after Butcher was brought down. Two minutes later, from another penalty, he added a fourth after Kelly was dragged down.
Mangotsfield’s best spell followed as Byrne blocked first from Simpson, then from Dan McBean. There was some solid Paulton defending from captain Nuno Felix, Neil Martin, Byrne and Dan Dempsey, the later limping off to be replaced by the equally impressive youth-team player Joe Paradise.
In the 84th minute, a superb through ball from McBean was fired home by Simpson.
Frome Town maintained their near-perfect start to the season as they piled more home blues on Bristol Manor Farm with a 3-0 win at The Creek.
Manor Farm came close to taking an early lead when Owen Howe combined well with Kyle Tooze before the latter dragged his shot just wide.
Frome took the lead when former Farm player Rex Mannings tucked the rebound away after his initial shot was saved. Howe sliced a good chance wide for Farm, and the home side had two penalty shouts rejected before the break.
Farm had the majority of possession in the second half as they tried to get level. Owen Howe had the first chance to restore parity but could only see his effort deflect just wide.
The visitors doubled their lead when Jon Davies’ cross was headed into his own net by Mason Winter. James Ollis added a late third after ‘keeper Ben John sliced a bouncing ball.