Taunton got back to winning ways with a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Minehead at Irnham Road on Tuesday, writes Rowland Lyons.

Goals from Alex Pounde and Danny Lane saw the visitors home after Minehead – four games into their pre-season - had led for 73 minutes after Chris Newbold’s opener.

Minehead-based keeper, Connor Sidley-Adams, was called into action after only 21 seconds when Luke Cole’s poor back pass only reached Jack Groves-Furse, who saw his point-blank effort turned away.

Sidley-Adams then made a superb tip-over to deny a Matt Cracknell piledriver on 11 minutes after Newbold had seen his free-kick blocked by the Taunton wall.

The home side’s pressure paid off and they took the lead on 12 minutes when the visiting defence switched off from Rob Gurnett’s corner-kick, which found Luke Freeman, who played in Newbold to coolly beat Sidley-Adams at his near post.

Minehead coped better with the bumpy surface and Freeman wasted a great chance to double their tally from Jack Adams’s poor 28th minute back pass – but blazed wide with only the keeper to beat.

Sidley-Adams was called into action four minutes before the break and made another good stop to deny Steffan Phillip’s long range drive, before Taunton finally hit back and Craig Carr was unlucky to see his full-blooded volley fly wide.

Taunton ended the half on top and should have equalized, but fit-again Aaron Blakemore sliced wide from six yards.

A more purposeful Taunton – having made nine substitutions at the break - had their County League opponents stretched with Andy Butler and Pounde going close.

But, an impressive Minehead looked the likelier to score and kept Taunton in their own half for long periods, before Lane unhinged the home side with a shot that keeper Chris Meredith nearly fumbled the ball over his own line – and had skipper Mike Mullen to thank for a last-ditch clearance.

The Peacocks finally levelled on 85 minutes when Lane found Pounde, who drilled past Meredith from 10 yards.

Town’s unlikely victory was complete two minutes from time – from the move of the match – when Darren Rice’s overlapping run and cross fed Simon Ingram, who found Lane, whose deflected effort beat the unlucky Meredith from inside the box.

Minehead: Chris Meredith – Rich Binding, Matt Cracknell, Lee Todd, Mike Mullen, Ross Addicott, Steffan Phillips, Chris Newbold, Jack Groves-Furse, Luke Freeman, Rob Gurnett. Subs (all used): Royston Green, Jack Page, Nick Phillips, James Browning, Brian Hall, Guy Burns, Luke Bloys.

Taunton Town: Connor Sidley Adams – Luke Cole (sub. Danny Lane 46 mins), Chris McGrath, Phil Veal (Tim Legg 46), Jack Adams (Darren Rice 46) – Aaron Blakemore (Jon Vance 46), Craig Carr (Andy Butler 46), Simon Stone (Simon Ingram 46), Tom Hopkins (Jamie Short 46, Phil Veal 65) – Raiff Plant (Alex Pounde 46), James Blake (Ross MacNab 46).

Referee: Mr Mike Hall (Wellington).