CIRENCESTER TOWN 1 PAULTON ROVERS 1: Cirencester scored a late equaliser through substitute Jason Welsh to take a point against a Paulton Rovers side who went down to 10 men when Josh Jeffries was given his marching orders for two bookable offences.

Cirencester looked dangerous in the opening minutes when a through-ball released Carl Brown, who cut inside his marker but was denied by a brilliant save from Paulton goalkeeper Kyle Phillips. Paulton took a ninth-minute lead when a long ball by central defender Ollie Price found striker Matt Cooper 10 yards from goal and he gave goalkeeper Matt Bath no chance.

Cirencester kept the Paulton defence under pressure, creating chances for striker Scott Griffin and midfielder Tom Etheridge, but both failed to hit the target with headers.

Paulton suffered a blow in the 55th minute when they went down to 10 men when midfielder Josh Jeffries was sent off.

Despite this, Paulton went close to increasing their lead after 61 minutes when Chris Lane cut in from the right and his cross-drive was well saved by goalkeeper Bath. With the advantage of the extra player, Cirencester put the Paulton defence under heavy pressure and they went close to equalising after 75 minutes when a free-kick from Mark Pitchett was turned away by Phillips.

Cirencester pressure paid off with an 88th-minute equaliser from substitute Jason Welsh when he scored with a header at the back post from a free-kick into the goalmouth.

Paulton still had time to create two chances when Waters found Ben Lacey, who played Robbie Claridge clear, but his shot was straight at goalkeeper Bath.

Three minutes into injury time, Waters and Lacey put substitute Charlie Rich clear, but he scuffed his shot badly and it rolled against an upright.