Buildbase FA Trophy preliminary round
Taunton Town 1, AFC Totton 1

TAUNTON Town were held to a draw at home by AFC Totton on Saturday, meaning their FA Trophy preliminary tie will be decided by a replay at Totton this Tuesday, October 10.

Ben Adelsbury gave the hosts the lead as part of a positive first-half performance, but Craig Feeney equalised and the away side could well have won it.

The Peacocks welcomed back several players who missed their midweek match at Bideford, with Shane White joining Adelsbury and Mark Preece at centre-back, and Brett Trowbridge making up a midfield trio with Ollie Chamberlain and Ross Staley.

Despite them missing skipper Matt Wright (suspension), the hosts started well - Pierce Mitchell looking dangerous coming forward from right wing-back - but chances were hard to come by, with Ryan Brett's fierce shot over their best effort.

Adelsbury had already gone close with one free-kick, and he broke the deadlock on 25 minutes, as he powered the set-piece across the keeper and in at the far post from 30 yards out.

But for all of their positive play, they could only take a 1-0 lead into the half-time interval, and Totton came racing out of the traps on the restart.

Feeney broke clear following a Taunton corner, only to be denied by keeper Lloyd Irish, but he levelled matters on 57 minutes as the home defence fell apart.

A long ball over the top beat the defenders - appealing for offside - and Irish could not hold the ball as he scrambled backwards, leaving Feeney to lash into an open goal.

And the visitors were only inches away from a second, as Adelsbury tackled Tobi Adekunle, but the ball fell for Feeney to crack a fine effort from outside the box against the crossbar.

Chances came and went for both sides - Staley hooking a shot over the top and Preece seeing an effort cleared off the line amid a goalmouth scramble, before Irish made saves from Charlie Gunson and Jack Masterton.

The teams could not be separated, meaning a replay at Totton's Testwood Stadium this Tuesday will decide who goes through to the next round and earns prize money of £3,000.