Buildbase FA Trophy - first qualifying round
Taunton Town 2, Merthyr Town 1

GOALS from Matt Wright and Ben Adelsbury saw Taunton Town earn progress in the FA Trophy, seeing off Welsh side Merthyr Town.

The Peacocks spent much of the second half holding on amid some unsavoury scenes, as Merthyr - who play one division higher than their hosts - scored through Eliot Richards and piled on the pressure.

Taunton manager Leigh Robinson handed starts to Ben Palmer at left wing-back and new signing Matt Buse behind strikers Wright and Dan Sullivan, with Ross Staley and Les Afful dropping to the bench.

There were very few chances in the opening exchanges, with Merthyr dominating possession but struggling to create much with it.

The Peacocks broke the deadlock following - as has often been the case this season - an Adelsbury free-kick on 12 minutes, which was well saved by Oliver Davies, only for Sullivan to gather and cross from the right, and Wright made no mistake with his header.

With Ollie Chamberlain particularly industrious in midfield, the Peacocks' front three of Buse, Sullivan and Wright were combining well - Sullivan seeing one effort find the side netting and another chalked off for offside following a very slick move.

The visitors had struggled to fashion any chances of note, but then gave the home side an almighty scare right at the end of the half.

Kerry Morgan, who had looked dangerous when finding space on the right on a number of occasions, fizzed in a low cross, which Stuart Fleetwood got his foot to but only managed to hit the bar from point-blank range.

Merthyr started the second half on the front foot, and were aggrieved by a couple of penalty decisions - the latter seeing Corey Jenkins booked for diving.

Man of the match Chamberlain then found Pierce Mitchell down the right, and his cross hit Morgan's arm, allowing Adelsbury to stroke home from the penalty spot on 54 minutes.

Wright - given the chance to finish it - flicked wide when in on the goalkeeper, but from there it was all Merthyr.

Having introduced the lively Mo Tourlay off the bench, the visitors pulled one back on 65 minutes when a clearing header fell perfectly for Richards to crash home a superb half-volley.

The momentum was all with the away side, but play was halted for some handbags between players - and indeed the Merthyr coaching staff - after an Adelsbury foul, in the aftermath of which an away supporter was escorted from the ground after confronting Taunton chairman Kevin Sturmey.

Lloyd Irish made a good low save to keep out Robbie Patten's free-kick, as the hosts struggled to get out of their own half, but over time the likelihood of an equaliser seemed to ebb away.

Ross Staley was introduced, and between him, Sullivan, Chamberlain and Mitchell the home side managed to keep the ball at the right end, away from their goal, and they survived through to the final whistle.

The win brought with it £3,250 in prize money for the club, and the Peacocks return to action next Saturday, away to Didcot Town in the league.

Taunton Town: Lloyd Irish, Pierce Mitchell, Ben Palmer, Shane White, Brett Trowbridge (Owen Irish 79), Ben Adelsbury, Ollie Chamberlain, Ryan Brett, Matt Wright (c) (Ross Staley 86), Dan Sullivan, Matt Buse.
Substitutes not used: Les Afful, Michael Meaker.
Attendance: 493