Southern League Division One S&W

Mangotsfield United 1 Taunton Town 3

IT'S now twelve Evo-Stik League games unbeaten for the Peacocks who battled to a 3-1 victory at Mangotsfield United on Saturday afternoon (January 9).

The result was especially commendable given the conditions the match was played in, a very heavy pitch which had survived a morning inspection becoming increasingly boggy during the 90 minutes following further downpours.

Not surprisingly there were no chances of note in the early stages as both sides adapted to the surface, a blocked header from Jamie Price being the closest either side came to success.

Town though made the vital breakthrough after 31 minutes, a left wing cross from Jordan Rogers crashing off the far post and the rebound falling for Lewis Powell to hook past Kyle Phillips in the home goal.

Mangotsfield fired a couple of efforts off target but failed to trouble Lloyd Irish before Powell's delivery in from the right took a deflection off a home defender to hit the crossbar and Josh Searle's follow-up shot was diverted wide.

Town's advantage was doubled three minutes into the second half when Searle outmuscled a defender on the byeline and delivered a perfect cross to Powell, who netted with a close range header against his former club.

Irish had to make his first save of the afternoon when turning Elliott Gibbons' shot wide as the Field pressed to find a way back into the game.

However, Rogers put the points to bed after 76 minutes, finding himself in space to plant a drive from 20 yards past the dive of Phillips.

Irish made another great reaction save from Ben Bament, whilst Phillips stretched to catch an Ollie Chamberlain volley at the opposite end, before the hosts pulled a goal back two minutes into stoppage time - sub Joe Hillard curling a fine shot over Irish from distance.

It proved no more than a consolation though, as Town's deserved win saw them rise to second place.