Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West
Taunton Town 0, Swindon Supermarine 0

AN off-colour Taunton Town saw their winning run ended by Swindon Supermarine, but they can be satisfied with a point against another promotion playoff contender.

The Peacocks were not helped by their 10-day break without a match due to postponements, and they struggled to make much impact on a first half which could quite easily have seen the visitors take the lead.

The home side improved in the second half as boss Leigh Robinson rang the changes, but still they lacked their previous attacking swagger, and a draw was the fair result.

Mitchell Pierce, Matt Villis, Brett Trowbridge and Matt Wright were restored to the starting XI from the Peacocks' last match, the 10-2 demolition of Larkhall Athletic, but the hosts took their time to get going.

Marine's Connor Waldon broke into the penalty area, forcing a fine tackle from Ed Palmer, and he then shot narrowly wide as the hosts began confidently.

Eventually the Peacocks did manage to create some chances - Jordan Rogers' run and cutback nearly set up Ollie Chamberlain, but he was blocked, before Wright hit a half-volley over and Rogers scuffed an effort wide.

One of the game's better moves, on the half hour, saw Ben Palmer's cross headed down by Wright for Rogers to tee up Shane White, but his shot flew high of the crossbar.

Yet it was Marine who ended the half on top - the dangerous Waldon setting up Brad Hooper to hit a fierce shot, but straight into Lloyd Irish's midriff.

A scramble in the hosts' area then saw Owen Irish clear off the line, before Hooper hit another fine effort on the half-volley which Lloyd Irish tipped round the post.

The Peacocks began the second period more positively, with Ben Palmer seeing a cross-shot go narrowly wide and Rogers embarking on a jinking run that ended with an effort being palmed out by keeper Connor Johns.

More Rogers magic soon followed, with a storming run down the left and a cross-cum-shot that nicked off the far post and was cleared for a corner.

Josh Parsons forced a save from Lloyd Irish, and then at the other end substitute Ross Staley dragged an effort wide and Chamberlain shot straight at Johns as the game finished goalless.

Ultimately the Peacocks never got into their flow in front of an impressive turnout of 505 fans, with too many miscontrols from the forward players, and sloppy or aimless passes from those behind them.

Lloyd and Owen Irish gave good performances defensively, and those ensured that Taunton took a point from a bad day at the office against a fellow promotion rival.

The result saw them fall from fifth to seventh in the league standings, out of the playoff places, but they still have games in hand over all the teams above them.

The Peacocks are back in action next Saturday, February 4, away to Paulton Rovers, where they will hope to be a much greater attacking force against the side 16th in the table.

Taunton Town: Lloyd Irish, Pierce Mitchell, Owen Irish, Ed Palmer, Matt Villis, Ben Palmer (Ross Staley), Shane White, Brett Trowbridge (c) (Craig Duff), Matt Wright (Craig Veal), Jordan Rogers, Ollie Chamberlain. Subs not used: Josh Searle, Alex Hoyle.

***

Taunton boss Leigh Robinson said: "I think [two good teams cancelling each other out] is a fair comment - a draw was a fair result.

"We were nowhere near our best - whether that was the law of averages after the run we've been on, or the 10 days off.

"Our physical levels weren't as good, and we weren't as good on the ball.

"Still it's 34 points from the last 36 available - it was a frustrating day, but in the grand scheme of things not bad."