British Gas Business League Division 1 (S&W): Winchester City 1, Taunton Town 2.

DANNY Lane’s first goals for the club fired Taunton Town to a crucial victory at Winchester City on Tuesday night.

The win puts Taunton five points clear of bottom side Winchester, who knocked the Peacocks out of the FA Trophy last month.

However, the win was tarnished as the Peacocks had Scott Thomas and Alex Pounde both sent off for two bookable offences in the second half. Winchester’s Adam Kelly received a straight red soon after.

Thomas had Taunton’s first chance but his header was well saved by Clint Davies. But the visitors took the lead after 14 minutes when a shot by Lane found its way through a crowd of players.

Having scored his first goal for the club, Lane repeated the feat after 34 minutes when the ball fell to him after the defence failed to clear properly and, again, he made no mistake.

There could have been another goal before half time when Davies punched the ball high into the air but the ball spun wildly as it came down and Leon Taswell was unable to supply the finishing touch.

Having looked so comfortable in the first half, Taunton lost their way and two yellow cards in quick succession led to Thomas being dismissed for the second time this season.

Remarkably, Pounde was booked a minute after Thomas’s dismissal and just two minutes later was harshly given a second yellow leaving the Peacocks down to nine men.

But, despite the two-man disadvantage, Charlie Welch’s shot hit the inside of the post on 74 minutes and it came out into the grateful arms of Davies.

Five minutes later Kelly received a straight red for Winchester following an off-the-ball incident, spotted by the assistant referee.

But the home side were not in the mood to give up and Jono Richardson bundled the ball over the line six minutes from time to make Taunton sweat. However, they held firm to clinch a third win of the season.

Taunton: Simon Cooper, Ben Newby (Jason Burt 80mins), Charlie Welch, Jamie Price (capt), Lee Bridson, Scott Thomas, Danny Lane, John Harris, Alex Pounde, Leon Taswell (Sam Jones 66), Leon Simpson. Subs not used: Dave Anthony, Rob Sage.