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

ON March 3rd 2003 Russell Musker’s Taunton Town thrashed Paulton Rovers 5-1 in a Western League fixture at Wordsworth Drive.

Since promotion, Taunton have managed not one victory against this veritable bogey side at league level. The Southern League head-to-head record now reads seven wins to Paulton with three draws.

Town have never come closer to ending this run than they did last Saturday. In front of the biggest home crowd of the season (229), they turned in their best home performance and deservedly led by two goals with less than 20 minutes remaining.

Luke Cole, a young full-back just released by Stevenage Borough and resident in Exeter, was drafted into the side in place of Clevedon Town-bound Sam Jones.

Cole provided plenty of useful ammunition from the right as did Alex Pounde from the left as Taunton took the game to their higher ranked and more experienced opponents. Cole himself, Twaine Plummer and Owen Irish all went close in the first half while at the other end Dave Burborough fired over and Lloyd Irish saved well from both Dan and Ben Cleverley.

Taunton almost took the lead on the hour when Danny Lane appeared to have got around Kyle Phillips who managed to recover to save.

However, the opener came five minutes later when Pounde latched on to Lane’s pass and lifted the ball over the keeper.

Leon Simpson blazed wide when put through by Owen Irish after 69 minutes, but Taunton appeared to have made the game safe two minutes later when Plummer jinked around Phillips and slotted the ball into the empty net.

However, just as at Winchester on the only other occasion they have enjoyed a two goal lead this season, Taunton pressed the self-destruct button. John Harris received a straight red card following a clash with an opponent, and manager Ian Jones was banished to the stands for his reaction.

Against ten men, Paulton always had every chance of rescuing the game, and their task was made much easier with the award of an extremely harsh penalty for handball against Scott Thomas.

Ben Cleverley tucked the spot kick low to Lloyd Irish’s left, and six minutes into stoppage time his brother Dan fired home the inevitable equaliser from close range.

Taunton: Lloyd Irish, Luke Cole, Charlie Welch, Ben Newby, Owen Irish, Scott Thomas (captain), Danny Lane, John Harris, Alex Pounde (Dave Anthony 83), Leon Simpson, Twaine Plummer (Shaun Anthony 76). Unused subs: Shaun Smith, Ian Jones. Attendance: 229