Paulton Rov 4 (B Cleverley 7, 15, French 31, D Cleverley 85)

Noirth Leigh 1 (Simms 43)

North Leigh paid the price for a sluggish start as they slumped to defeat at Paulton Rovers in Division 1 South & West.

In the first meeting between the two clubs, Paulton started much sharper and were three goals up just after the half-hour.

The visitors fell behind after seven minutes when a cross from the right wasn't fully cleared by the Leigh defence, and Ben Cleverley drilled a low shot past keeper Richard Barrett from ten yards.

Cleverley struck again eight minutes later with a free-kick into the bottom corner.

North Leigh went close when Joe Burnell's shot was just kept out by keeper Kyle Phillips.

However, they fell further behind in the 31st minute as midfielder John French latched onto a cross from the left to strike a firm shot from 15 yards into the top corner.

Leigh were given hope when a great run and angled shot by striker Mark Simms reduced the deficit just before half-time.

The second half saw much better possession and greater effort from North Leigh.

But they were unable to break through a solid Paulton rearguard despite using all three substitutes and throwing more men into attack.

And a breakaway attack by Paulton in the 85th minute led to their fourth goal scored by Dan Clevereley, brother of Ben.

North Leigh: Barrett, Jackson, Cooper, Threlfall (McCabe), Huxley, Dodds, Burnell, Reardon (Dennis), Simms, Hope, Allen (Futcher).

Attendance: 159.