Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West
Taunton Town 3, Wantage Town 0

IT was far from a classic, but Taunton Town got the job done against visitors Wantage Town on Tuesday night for their seventh consecutive win.

Goals from Ben Palmer, Matt Wright and man-of-the-match Ross Staley gave them a 3-0 victory that moves them to within two points of second-placed Tiverton Town.

There were as many chances for the hosts as there were throw-ins, both teams belting the ball out of play on a regular basis in a strong wind.

Although the very blustery conditions spoiled the game somewhat, the Peacocks were utterly dominant against a team they had beaten 9-0 on their own patch in December.

The home side were on the attack from the first whistle, with Jordan Rogers having a couple of efforts blocked in the second minute, and Wright heading wide from a fine Palmer cross.

Taunton had the visitors' goal under siege, even if the flow of the game was hampered by the wind, and they took the lead on 18 minutes.

Wright's shot from the edge of the box was tipped over by goalkeeper Ed Cavanagh, and Wantage failed to deal with Staley's corner from the right, Palmer reacting quickest to lash into the net.

Palmer nearly had a second moments later, heading just wide from Owen Irish's cross, and Wantage were then left in debt to their crossbar twice in two minutes.

First, Staley's speculative volley from the edge of the box went over Cavanagh but clattered into the bar; then Cavanagh went up to gather a corner, but fumbled onto his own bar and over.

The pattern continued into the second half, and a second goal arrived just before the hour - again from a Staley corner, this time Wright capitalising on Wantage hesitation to drill the ball home.

And the win was wrapped up with eight minutes left, as substitute Craig Veal set up Staley to finish after some penalty box pinball - Staley's fourth goal against Wantage this season, after a hat-trick in the reverse fixture.

Taunton Town: Lloyd Irish, Josh Searle, Ben Palmer, Owen Irish, Matt Villis (Pierce Mitchell 46), Alex Hoyle, Ollie Chamberlain (Matt Buse 80), Shane White, Matt Wright (c), Jordan Rogers (Craig Veal 46), Ross Staley. Substitutes not used: Brett Trowbridge, Michael Meaker.
Referee: Iain Parsons.
Attendance: 303.