BigFreeBet.com Challenge Cup round 2
Barnstaple Town 2, Taunton Town 4

TAUNTON Town progressed to the third round of the BigFreeBet.com Challenge Cup (Southern League Cup) thanks to a 4-2 win at division rivals Barnstaple on Tuesday night.

Goals from Omar Simpson, Ross Staley, Chris McGrath and Shane White saw the Peacocks through, bookended by Jed Harper-Penman and Jordan Walton's strikes for the hosts.

Staley and Simpson were two of the players to come into the side as manager Leigh Robinson rotated his squad, with Tom Stone, Les Afful and Shaun Anthony also starting.

Harper-Penman gave Barnstaple an eighth-minute lead, but they were only ahead for four minutes as Simpson finished calmly after latching onto Anthony's through ball.

White and Ben Adelsbury were playing together in midfield - having spent most of this season at centre-back - and Adelsbury had the chance to put the visitors ahead on 20 minutes.

His penalty was saved, only for Staley to net the rebound for 2-1.

Five minutes later they had a third, as McGrath met White's free-kick at the back post to head home his first Peacocks goal.

Staley fired over and Afful saw an effort saved as the away side ended the first half on top.

The fourth and final strike for Taunton came just past the hour mark, as White netted his first goal of the season from Pierce Mitchell's cross.

Stone saw an effort deflected onto the crossbar, before Walton's shot from the edge of the box reduced the deficit, but the Peacocks were comfortable winners.

They are in cup action again on Saturday, hosting Beaconsfield Town in the FA Trophy second qualifying round (ko 3pm).

Taunton Town: Lloyd Irish, Pierce Mitchell, Ross Staley, Tom Stone, Chris McGrath, Ben Palmer, Shane White (c), Ben Adelsbury, Shaun Anthony, Omar Simpson, Les Afful.
Substitutes (not used): Ollie Chamberlain, Brett Trowbridge, Rob Dray.