Southern League Div 1 S&W

Wantage Town 1, Taunton Town 2

AFTER successive league defeats to promotion rivals North Leigh and Larkhall, Taunton got their promotion push back on track with a scrappy but welcome win at Wantage on Saturday, writes James Wright.

Leigh Robinson made three changes from Bank Holiday Monday, Jak Martin and Josh Klein-Davies returning at centre back and striker in place of Charlie Hitchings and Craig Veal respectively, and Dale Evans coming in for injured midfielder Aidan Chainey.

The visitors took the lead after just two minutes, Jamie Short latching on to a Jamie Price ball over the home defence, drawing Edward Cavanagh and then beating him with a lofted shot to which the keeper got a hand, but could not sufficiently deflect.

After ten minutes the lead was almost doubled when left-back Nuno Felix wowed the crowd with a thrilling run from inside his own half and put over a fine cross that Jordan Rogers was just unable to convert.

A second goal was inevitable, and duly arrived just after the quarter hour mark when Short finished a slick passing move by cutting a pass back to Klein-Davies who squeezed an accurate low shot just inside Cavanagh’s far post.

At this stage Taunton were in complete control, and the match looked destined to become as one-sided as their only previous visit to Alfredian Park.

On that occasion, just over a year ago, they comprehensively outplayed Wantage in the home club’s first ever game in the Evo-Stik League.

However, Taunton lost their way after the second goal, and Wantage finished the first half stronger, coming closest to scoring when Piers McGlynn flashed a shot into the side netting shortly before the break.

Lengthy breaks for treatment to both Ben Carter and Short at the start of the second half appeared to further unsettle the visitors, and they finally succumbed in the 61st minute when Dale Evans fouled Nick Thorne and Ben Whitehead rammed the resultant penalty past Lloyd Irish.

Whilst the remaining half hour was never comfortable, the Peacocks continued to enjoy the better chances.

After 70 minutes, Klein-Davies chased down a long Price clearance and laid the ball back to midfielder Josh Searle who flashed a shot just wide.

Then in injury time Evans really should have wrapped things up when picked out by substitute Ryan Broom, but sliced his shot wide as Taunton stumbled somewhat unconvincingly over the finishing line.

Taunton: Lloyd Irish, Jamie Price (captain), Nuno Felix, Owen Irish, Jak Martin, Dale Evans, Jamie Short (Charlie Hitchings 83), Ben Carter, Jordan Rogers (Ryan Broom 62), Josh Klein-Davies, Josh Searle (Craig Veal 74)