A STUNNING strike by former Plymouth Parkway striker Levi Landricombe just past the hour was enough to relieve Taunton of their long and proud unbeaten away record and inflict the first defeat in nine games at a feverish Ladymead on Tuesday night, writes Kerry Miller.

It was the stand out incident in what was a scrappy game, with both sets of players and benches spending far too much time screaming at the officials and Leigh Robinson’s men lost concentration at vital moments which ultimately cost them the game and the points.

Skipper Jamie Price was serving his last match suspended while on form striker Lewis Powell was missing with work commitments and Taunton missed them both on a night when a slighty disappointing crowd of 344 provided a tense and excited atmosphere.

Landricombe showed his pace with the first real attack but was denied by Owen Irish, then Ben Carter and Rob Farkins caused trouble down the right flank before they were also crowded out as the game briefly threatened to come alight.

Landricombe then sparked the touchpaper with a foul which brought him a yellow card and from that moment, both referee Mark Derrien and his senior linesmen were subjected to constant abuse from both benches and sets of players.

Former Town players Ben Mammola and Steve Kingdon had efforts cleared off the line in the same attack, before at the other end, Jordan Rogers found room to cross for Dale Evans, but his effort was scrambled away on the half hour.

Jordan then flicked on for Craig Veal to go clear but Joe Perry was out to narrow the angle a save low down.

It was the last meaningful moment of the half as the game deteriorated with stoppages for lengthy arguments and suspiciously timed injuries and it was a relief when half-time arrived.

From the restart Rogers was strong twice, first volleying over then having an effort blocked, before Owen Howe raised the temperatures on and off the field again with a clumsy challenge on Rogers which brought him a booking.

With Taunton still discussing that incident, Mike Williams ventured forward on the right and found Landricombe who curled a peach of a shot past Lloyd Irish for what proved to be the winner.

Robinson threw on Ollie Chamberlain for Evans and Josh Searle for Brett Trowbridge, but Tivvy were seemingly too streetwise for the visitors and sucked them in to a verbal and physical battle, which Howe seemed to overstep when he crudely chopped down Charlie Hitchings but somehow avoided a second yellow card from the overworked Derrien.

The delaying tactics brought ten minutes of injury time and with the crowd at fever pitch and keeper Irish joining everyone else in the Tivvy penalty area, Ben Carter’s corner reached Jamie Short who crashed a perfect volley towards the top corner only to find Perry clawing it away with the last touch of the game.

It was a class moment which looked out of place in a game which never had a chance to ignite, but they do it all again on Tuesday.

Taunton Town: Lloyd Irish, Rob Farkins, Charlie Hitchings, Owen Irish, Matt Villis, Bret Trowbridge, Jamie Short, Ben Carter, Jordan Rogers, Dale Evans, Craig Veal. Subs used: Josh Searle, Charlie Bridges, Ollie Chamberlain.