A crowd of more than 500 paid tribute tonight to one of local football's most popular players when Bristol City faced Paulton Rovers in a testimonial for ex-Yeovil defender Rob Cousins. City won the game by six goals to nil with four goals coming in the last twenty minutes.
Rob, who made 213 appearances in four seasons between 1996 and 2000, was rewarded at Winterfield Road for his 1000th match which he played for Paulton Rovers against Andover in January. The Robins were an ideal choice for the 39-year-old as it was at Ashton Gate that he began his career in 1987.
Tonight saw Keith Millen bring a very strong squad to the village side. The international break and several players returning from injury meant that Millen started with eight first teamers including ex-Glovers Gavin Williams and Lee Johnson along with skipper Louis Carey, Dean Gerken, David Clarkson and Danny Haynes.
The first half against the present Paulton Rovers Zamaretto Southern Div 1 South & West team was a close affair with just a Danny Haynes goal separating the two sides though Williams curled a shot against the post minutes earlier.
The second half saw a raft of substitutions with the whole Paulton side departing to be replaced by an "all-stars" eleven featuring Jerry Gill, Dean Birkby, Steve Winter and Tony Pounder, all former Town stars. For older non-league fans, there was a chance to wind back the clock with appearances from ex-Bath City trio Dave Mogg, Grantley Dicks and Adie Mings while Billy Clark (ex-Bristol Rovers) also came on.
Jimmy Keohane thumped home a second on fifty minutes before a burst of goalscoring after the seventy minute mark. Johnson set up Marlon Jackson for the third with a clever backheel, Carey scored number four with a header, Clarkson added a fifth before Jackson hit his second, and City's sixth, with twelve minutes to go.
Rob departed with ten minutes to go and received a great ovation from the Paulton crowd swelled with visitors from Yeovil Town, Bath City and Bristol City, all keen to pay tribute to a man making his 1021st appearance tonight.
Copyright Yeovil Town FC 2010
