A BRILLIANT performance by Stratford Town goalkeeper Andy Kemp was not enough to prevent in-form Taunton completing the double over their play-off rivals with a 1-0 victory in the Evo-Stik Southern league yesterday, writes James Wright.

For the second successive season, Stratford Town's visit to the Viridor Stadium was swung by a red card.

A year ago, keeper Joe Perry's first half dismissal galvanised the Peacocks to come from behind to achieve one of their most noteworthy victories of the campaign.

This time around the home side seemed out of sorts until their opponents were reduced to ten men for the final third of the match.

Taunton's resources were depleted when substitute Josh Wadham failed to survive the warm-up, and received a further blow with Ben Kirk, already carrying a knock, being taken off injured within the first ten minutes. Not surprisingly, Stratford bossed the early exchanges.

Tricky midfielder Aaron Moses-Garvey pushed a shot just wide, then striker Chris Sterling saw a drive bravely blocked by Owen Irish.

Taunton began to find their rhythm as the half evolved with Jamie Short's imaginative runs frequently prising open the Stratford defence. Graham Mercieca, Kirk's replacement, and Steve Kingdon both saw shots pass over at the end of tidy moves.

The pendulum swung markedly Taunton's way on the hour when visiting forward Luke Barlone, on his debut for the club, copped a straight red card for a halfway line clash with Owen Irish that also saw the home centre back booked.

Unlike Taunton a year ago, Stratford had no Plan B and spent the rest of the match defending chaotically. Kingdon saw a header cleared off the line and then Short had a brilliant left foot volley thwarted by an equally brilliant save from Kemp.

The besieged glovesman then pulled off an even better tip-over from an Irish flicked header from a Short corner, but finally succumbed in the most cruel of circumstances four minutes from time.

Young substitute Lewis Waldy, just on for Aaron Ward-Baptiste who delivered the most anonymous performance of his impressive loan from Bristol Rovers, fired across a centre from the left flank.

The ball hit defender Guy Clark and looped over the wrong-footed Kemp to hand Taunton a thrilling, and just about deserved, victory.

Taunton: Lloyd Irish, Jamie Price, Steve Kingdon (captain), Owen Irish, Ben Mammola, Ben Kirk (Graham Mercieca 9), Jamie Short, Brett Trowbridge, Steve Murray, Aaron Ward-Baptiste (Rodney Marsh 69), Craig Herrod (Lewis Waldy 79).

Stratford: Andy Kemp, Gary Moran (captain), Aaron Stringfellow (Ashley Wilkes 88), Guy Clark, Loyiso Recci, Scott Hadland, Aaron Moses-Garvey, Alex Price, Luke Barlone, Chris Sterling, Trey Brathwaite. Unused subs: Joe Halsall, Simeon Tulloch, Callum Burgess.

Referee: Andrew Bennett (Hatherleigh).

Assistants: Graeme Martin (Exeter), Phillip Eddie (Plymouth).

Match Sponsor: Vickery & Wyatt Ltd.

Matchball Sponsor: Dave Criddle Travel.

Attendance: 365.