Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West

Taunton Town 1, Hereford 1

TAUNTON Town could not quite complete a famous double over the league champions but were more than worthy of the point they picked up from a 1-1 draw against Hereford at the Viridor Stadium on Saturday.

The Peacocks were boosted by the return to the starting line-up of striker Matt Wright, back after a month on the sidelines, but there was no place for Owen Irish despite the defender’s availability after suspension.

Under crystal clear skies and in front of a bumper crowd of 1,073, the hosts got off to the worst possible start when Hereford took the lead with their first attack after just two minutes.

A loose ball found its way through to Bulls striker Mike Symons, who ignored the offside appeals and lashed into the roof of the net to put the champions ahead in contentious fashion.

Taunton’s lengthy protests fell on deaf ears, but the Peacocks did not let their heads drop and came back into the game well without ever seriously threatening the visiting goal.

The flow of the first half was interrupted by numerous niggly fouls, with Taunton’s Ollie Chamberlain booked and Jordan Rogers cutting a frustrated figure up front as he was penalised on several occasions.

Despite the lack of rhythm to the game, Leigh Robinson’s men stayed in it and got their deserved leveller when Ed Palmer curled a free-kick into the bottom corner from just outside the area on the half hour.

Ross Staley nearly put the Peacocks in front before the interval, but his well-struck volley was straight at Bulls goalkeeper Alex Harris.

The visitors started the second half on the front foot and missed a glorious chance to retake the lead when centre-half Mark Preece sent a free header wide when well-placed from a corner.

Taunton looked to capitalise on their let-off and came close on several occasions through Staley, who was out to prove a point against his former club and found himself at the heart of everything good that Taunton did in the second half.

The influential number 11 saw two shots saved and another flash narrowly wide in a 10-minute spell midway through the second period, but could not quite find the breakthrough as Hereford survived the pressure.

The hosts then had the ball in the net but saw it disallowed for a foul on the goalkeeper, before Hereford passed up another golden chance when Tristan Plummer was played clean through but was denied by a fine Lloyd Irish save.

Both sides continued to press until the final whistle, but a winner proved elusive after a match in which a point each was a fair reflection of proceedings.

The point keeps Taunton second ahead of next Saturday’s derby at Bridgwater Town, and ensures they have taken four points from six against this year’s champions.