Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West
Paulton Rovers 2, Taunton Town 1

TAUNTON Town fell to their first defeat in 12 as they lost 2-1 away to Paulton Rovers, writes Thomas Smith.

Two second-half strikes from the hosts, along with a straight red card for Ed Palmer, proved too great a deficit for the Peacocks to overcome, as Matt Wright's late consolation strike proved just that.

The visitors started the brighter, with Wright and Jordan Rodgers giving Andrew Hannah early work in the Paulton goal.

But after a series of Taunton corners Rovers began to gain a foothold.

Kailan Gould, whose influence grew throughout, displayed slight of foot to supply Elliott Gibbons, but the midfielder could only drag his effort wide of the far post.

A continuation of flowing football followed in a fiercely contested encounter, before Taunton regained the initiative.

Wright peeled away from his marker smartly, but could only direct his half volley over.

If that had alarmed the home side's defence, they were further concerned as Craig Duff seemingly opened the scoring, only for his celebrations to be extinguished by the linesman's flag.

As was proving to be the game's pattern, the visitors failed to maintain such pressure, with Paulton ending the half the stronger.

Reeko Best left goalkeeper Lloyd Irish with his heart in his mouth, as the forward evaded the stopper only to be denied as visiting defenders swept up the impending danger.

That opportunity was soon followed by Tony Rickett's side best chance so far, as a sweeping move culminated with Best wisely offloading possession to Ryan Radford, whose finish failed to match the build-up.

Boosted by recent improvement and with Radford keen not to let a further opening pass, the hosts broke the deadlock five minutes after the interval.

Pressured by the onrushing Best, Lloyd Irish mistimed his clearance, leaving an unguarded goal.

Still with work to do, Radford showed tremendous composure to control the loose ball and chip home from 25 yards.

Intent on responding, The Peacocks introduced both Josh Searle and Craig Veal, but just moments later their challenge was heightened.

Nathan Legge displayed precision as he clipped a lofted pass into the path of Gould.

Bearing down on the penalty area the wide-man was crudely fell by Ed Palmer, who was dismissed following consultation between the officials.

Despite a man lighter, Taunton pressured the home side's goal.

But inevitably such attacking license came back to bite Leigh Robinson's men, as Gould flourished further.

Drifting infield, the diminutive winger dropped devastating body feigns before landing the killer blow, as his left-footed drive nestled in the bottom corner.

Matters could have turned worse after Lloyd Irish fell Best in the area, but Ricketts' tame spot-kick was denied by the redeemed keeper.

Desperate to turn such a footnote into a turning point, frontman and skipper Wright sought to lead the fightback.

But when he did sweep home left-footed, the referee's whistle was to swiftly follow, as Taunton's unbeaten run was ended.