Southern League Division One S&W

Shortwood United 1 Taunton Town 2

TAUNTON Town put the destiny of the championship into their own hands, coming from behind to win in dramatic style at Shortwood United, writes James Wright. 

The result, coupled with Cinderford’s draw at North Leigh, meant Leigh Robinson’s side left Meadowbank knowing that four straight wins from the remaining fixtures would secure the title irrespective of scores elsewhere.

The match had started badly for Town. Shortwood took the game to their visitors from the first whistle and went ahead after just eight minutes when Liam Meredith broke clear down the right and via a touch from Will Morford set up Jake Lee for an easy close range finish.

The aggressive forward play of Morford and Lee continued to trouble Taunton and Lloyd Irish had to be at his most agile to push aside another shot from Lee on the half-hour.

Despite monopolising possession, Taunton failed to create any clear openings. Off-target efforts from Jamie Price, a shot at the back post, and Rob Farkins, a header over from a Dale Evans free-kick, were all they had to show from a poor first half that was further marred by some ill-tempered exchanges between the two teams.

With a keen wind at their backs and a very attack-minded substitution, things were wholly different after the interval.

In place of defender Charlie Hitchings, Jordan Rogers was sent on to bail out strikers Craig Veal and Lewis Powell. Almost immediately, back-pedalling home keeper Tom King was required to make an excellent tip-over save from a deflected Ollie Chamberlain shot.

This triggered a string of corners from which Owen Irish enjoyed the best chance, stretching King into another fine save with a powerful header.

King next denied Rogers with another finger-tip save from a header. It was the substitute though who finally made the breakthrough five minutes from the end of regulation time.

After a Ben Carter corner from the left had been only half-cleared, Rogers lashed the ball home from the edge of the box, a couple of minimal deflections barely diverting its bullet trajectory into the back of the net.

A single point would have been of limited value to Taunton’s title aspirations, so they continued to press and appeared to have bagged the winner when Rogers bundled the ball over the line after Price’s initial stab had been parried during a six yard box scramble.

An offside flag however curtailed the celebration and team captain Price, who had been earlier booked for dissent, was sent off for a second such indiscretion.

The ten men continued to press however, and finally got their reward in the ninth minute of stoppage time.

Owen Irish headed back a Carter free kick to Powell who nodded it home from virtually under the crossbar, sparking delirious celebrations on the touchline as Taunton secured their first ever win in four visits to Shortwood to keep the title charge on track.