TAUNTON Town let a two goal lead slip when they drew 2-2 at Tiverton Town in the Evostik Southern league.

The match provided some proper Boxing Day entertainment despite the constant rain and consequent saturated pitch, with the Peacocks having appeared to have done enough to secure their ninth away success of the campaign until the last-ditch home comeback.

With team captain Steve Kingdon having to pull out with shin damage received at Bashley, Graham Mercieca dropped back to fill the left back berth in a strong defensive formation which restricted the hosts to two off-target shots from Jimmy Hinds and Jamie Mudge in the early stages.

The momentum increasingly shifted in Town’s favour as the first half progressed although Tiverton always posed a threat.

The stalemate was broken on 32 minutes thanks to a brilliant surge from Short who broke from half-way and evaded three yellow shirted challenges. Short was denied the goal he deserved by another Wright stop but Aaron Ward-Baptiste was there to stroke home into the open net and maintain his record of having scored in every Town game he has played.

With the pitch becoming increasingly sodden and slippery, constructive football became even more challenging in the second half.

Ward-Baptiste latched onto Price’s pass down the right channel but was foiled by Wright while the Peacocks defended solidly, Price pulling off one particularly good piece of blocking and control to cut out Mudge’s cross to the unmarked Howe.

A Howe free kick was then held by Irish which sparked off a fracas after a home player had lunged in on the Taunton keeper, the puzzling outcome being a caution for Town and a let-off for the opposition.

Town looked to have secured the win their possession merited on 76 minutes when they doubled their lead. Price’s quick throw found Brett Trowbridge in space on the touchline and his ball across was tapped home from close range by Craig Herrod, a first half substitute for Ben Carter who had jarred his knee in a block tackle.

However the final ten minutes saw a complete turnaround as Tiverton launched the ball into the area at every opportunity.

The ploy paid off on 84 minutes when Town failed to properly clear a corner and Alex Faux swung back in a cross from the left which Howe headed in at the far post.

Even then the Peacocks appeared comfortable enough to kill off the remainder of time but this proved a task too far in the unpredictable conditions when Tiverton pulled a dramatic equaliser out the bag three minutes into stoppage time. Mudge, who had too much space out on the right flank, hit a first time cross to the near post where former Taunton defender Ed Weeks hooked the ball on the volley into Irish’s left hand corner for an excellent finish.

Town found energy for one last spurt and Herrod might even have capped off the drama with a late, late winner but had his shot blocked after a flurry in the Tiverton box.

Taunton: Lloyd Irish, Jamie Price, Graham Mercieca, Owen Irish (captain), Ben Mammola, Ben Kirk, Jamie Short, Brett Trowbridge, Steve Murray, Aaron Ward-Baptiste, Ben Carter (Craig Herrod 36). Unused subs: Josh Wadham, Lewis Waldy. Attendance: 351.