Evo-Stik Southern League West
Salisbury 2, Taunton Town 2

TAUNTON Town maintained the eight-point gap between themselves and title challengers Salisbury, after a 2-2 draw at the Ray Mac on Saturday, which also ensured they matched the 18-year club record of 23 league games unbeaten.

Goals from Shane White and Matt Wright secured a share of the points for the Peacocks, with Stuart Green scoring twice for the home side.

New signing Nuno Felix went straight into the Town team, but their three weeks without a match seemed to take its toll early on, as the Whites went on the attack right from the start.

The visitors simply could not clear their lines, and Green pounced to net from close range and give his side a second-minute lead.

It took a while for the Peacocks to shake off their rustiness, and they were grateful that Salisbury captain Elliot Wheeler half-volleyed straight at goalkeeper Lloyd Irish from a corner.

But on 13 minutes the game was level, as Ryan Brett curled in a free-kick to the far post, where White rose to meet it and head home.

That seemed to knock the stuffing out of the hosts, and Dan Sullivan wasted a glorious chance to take the lead on the half hour.

He latched onto Wright’s through ball, rounded keeper Charlie Searle, but then succeeded only in shooting straight at the sole covering defender.

Still the away side led at half time, as another Brett set-piece – this time a corner – was met by Wright, who stooped in head in at the front post on 42 minutes.

Clearly Whites manager Steve Claridge exposed his side to the hairdryer treatment at the break, as they were fast out of the blocks.

Town weathered the early storm, but only just, as Zackariah Kotwica drove towards goal and his shot beat Irish, but the ball shaved the post as it went wide.

For all the vocal support from the fantastic travelling fans - who made almost all of the noise in an attendance of 768 - the Peacocks struggled to get a foothold in the second half, unable to keep possession for long.

The home side eventually found the equaliser on 65 minutes, as Lewis Benson’s free-kick found the unmarked George Colson, and although Irish parried his header, Green was following up to volley home.

The momentum seemed to be with the Whites now, but few chances followed as the game staggered towards its finale in the bitterly cold conditions, with Taunton’s defence well marshalled by man of the match Keith Emmerson.

The outstanding chance for a winning fell to the visitors in stoppage time, as Sullivan found substitute Craig Veal, who flicked the ball on to Ollie Chamberlain in space, but his shot was straight at Searle, who saved at point-blank range.

So it ended honours even between the two sides who will most likely finish in the automatic promotion places, with leaders Taunton able to keep their hosts at arm’s length.

The Peacocks, having matched the unbeaten run from 1999/2000 today, will look to break the record away to Barnstaple Town on Tuesday night (ko 7.45pm).

Taunton Town: Lloyd Irish, Pierce Mitchell, Nuno Felix, Ben Adelsbury, Keith Emmerson, Shane White, Ollie Chamberlain, Ryan Brett, Matt Wright (c) (Craig Veal 81), Dan Sullivan, Matt Buse (Josh Nelmes 87).
Subs not used: Les Afful, Toby Down, Michael Meaker.
Attendance: 768