Zamaretto League Division One South and West: Taunton Town 2, Bedfont Green 2.

TAUNTON turned in a vastly-improved performance on Saturday, but with just ten minutes to go it looked to be to no avail as they trailed by two goals before staging a dramatic come-back.

For their first ever game against Bedfont Green – also nicknamed The Peacocks – Town reverted to a traditional 4-4-2 formation with Twaine Plummer and Nick McCootie leading the line in place of Shaun Anthony and Alexis Piper.

The move almost paid immediate dividends with Plummer squandering a glorious chance within the first 30 seconds. He and his strike partner enjoyed further good opportunities, as did Chris Henry and Gavin Hart for the visitors, as play swung from end to end in a thoroughly enjoyable half.

Enjoyable, that is, until the 40th minute when full-back Lee Grant got inside Owen Irish and centred for Hart to turn the ball home.

The irrepressible Henry got behind the home defence after an hour, but rolled the ball on to a post and was just unable to get to the rebound. However, his side moved two ahead a minute later when Hart crossed from the right for Tommy McCarthy to head home unchallenged.

Kristian Miller – restored to the revamped starting line-up in right midfield – gave Taunton hope when he latched on to Owen Irish’s long clearance and lobbed home confidently.

Four minutes later the improbable comeback was complete when McCootie was pushed over in the box, and Plummer stroked home the resultant penalty.

With the Combined Counties League champions reduced to ten men following the dismissal of striker Russell Miner for felling Darren Rice, Taunton could even have won it at the death. However, after eight defeats on the trot, the single point was most welcome.

Taunton: Lloyd Irish, Luke Cole, Darren Rice, Danny Lane, Owen Irish, James Clough, Andy Butler, John Harris (captain), Twaine Plummer, Nick McCootie, Kristian Miller. Unused subs: Ben Newby, Shaun Anthony, Nick Peare. Att: 120. Match Sponsor: Vickery & Wyatt Ltd. Matchball Sponsor: Tony Rutland. Taunton Town man of the match: Nick McCootie.