Didcot Tn 1

(Odhiambo 62)

Paulton Rovers 0

Anaclet Odhiambo’s second-half strike gave Didcot Town victory over Paulton Rovers in Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West at the npower Loop Meadow Stadium.

Defences had been on top before the Railwaymen broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute.

Sam Elkins, playing in a more accustomed right-back role, created the opening by drawing defenders to him before laying the ball off to Odhiambo.

And Didcot’s top league scorer converted his seventh goal fin a little over two months with a crisp finish past keeper Kyle Phillips at his near post.

The visitors had been disappointing up to that point, and in a bid to pep things up, made a triple substitution.

They did improve for it, and Jon Beames clawed away headers by Lee Bryant and James Billing in the closing stages as Didcot held on for the win.

The scoreline accurately reflected the play as chances were few are far between, but Didcot were the better side.

Richard Peirson and the impressive Harry Halls had flashed headers wide in the early exchanges, but the best chance of the first period fell to Paulton. Craig Loxton’s centre found Ben Lacey in enough space to control the ball and pick his shot, but he shot high and wide.

Halls twice provided half-chances for Steve Davis in the final ten minutes of the half.

Firstly, Davis sent a header that flew narrowly over the bar and then following a touch by Odhiambo, he couldn’t quite set himself for a clear shot on goal before being crowded out.

The second half started with Paulton’s Ryan Gay having a goalbound shot blocked by the recovering Chris Owens, while at the other end Danilson Vincente crashed a 25-yard shot over, before Odhiambo grabbed the winner.

Didcot Tn: Beames, Elkins, Owens, Peirson, Henderson, Stanley, Halls (Halliday 73), Heapy, Vincente (Hodgkins 83), Odhiambo (Feaver 83), Davis.

Attendance: 118.