Zamaretto Southern League Division One South and West: Taunton Town 3, Uxbridge 2.
TAUNTON Town registered their first three-point haul of the season with a 3-2 victory at home to Uxbridge on Saturday.
Paul West made two changes from the side beaten at home by Paulton Rovers four days earlier, handing a debut to young Kristian Miller at right back, and giving Lewis Irish a start up front in place of Leon Simpson.
Uxbridge had endured a nightmare five-hour journey through holiday traffic to get to Wordsworth Drive, but settled the better with Danny Tilbury rattling a post with a speculative 20-yard shot after six minutes.
The visitors then took a 13th minute lead, a loose ball ricocheting behind the home defence to David Warner who nonchalantly lifted it past Lloyd Irish.
Attacking the Town End, Taunton turned the match on its head with a thrilling spell of concerted pressure at the start of the second half.
They equalised when James Clough drilled home a loose ball on 53 minutes – the young midfielder’s first goal for the first team.
Three minutes later Darren Rice also opened his Taunton Town account. The recent signing from Blackbrook cleverly headed a deep Lewis Irish cross back across wrong-footed goalkeeper Charlie Miller and into the far corner of the Uxbridge net.
A couple of typically impressive saves by Lloyd Irish maintained Town’s lead, and an 84th minute breakaway saw Nick McCootie, on as a substitute for Twaine Plummer, wrap up three well-deserved points.
However, a close range finish by Uxbridge centre-half Max Howell two minutes from time enforced them to endure a very nervy four minutes of injury-time.
Taunton: Lloyd Irish, Kristian Miller, Dave Anthony, Neil Bailey, Owen Irish, James Clough, Alexis Piper, John Harris (captain), Lewis Irish, Twaine Plummer (Nick McCootie 68), Darren Rice. Unused subs: Leon Simpson, Ben Newby, Jamie Short, Nick Peare. Man of the match: Lewis Irish.
Match sponsor: Character Graphics. Matchball sponsor: Walkers Crisps.
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