FOOTBALL: Taunton Town suffer heavy home defeat (From Somerset County Gazette)

FOOTBALL: Taunton Town suffer heavy home defeat

3:53pm Wednesday 10th October 2012 in Sport Latest

A DEPLETED Taunton Town suffered an humiliating 5-2 home defeat at the hands of bottom team Yate Town in the Evo-Stik league last night.

The home side made a rousing start, and Jamie Short rattled the cross bar with a fierce shot after just six minutes.

However they fell behind against the run of play shortly afterwards.

Gary Saunders tripped Matt Groves, and former Tiverton and Mangotsfield striker Tom Knighton tucked the penalty under Connor Sidley-Adams.

Taunton rallied, and Josh Dempsey did brilliantly to palm behind a cushioned effort by Andy Robertson at the end of a delightful one touch move.

But by the half-hour they were three down. Knighton finished from close range after a move down the right, then turned provider to set up a similar goal for strike partner Mitchell Page.

Knighton struck the bar as Yate threatened to run riot, and a fourth duly arrived just before the interval when Groves ran through the entire defence to slide the ball home.

Taunton pulled one back two minutes after the break when Robertson headed home a corner from the right.

However former Peacock Scott Thomas immediately restored the four goal margin, drilling home an angled shot following a free-kick on the other side of the penalty area.

Ingram netted a consolation penalty eleven minutes from time after Rodney Marsh had been tripped in the area at the end of a move he had started himself with a scintillating burst down the right.

But Taunton's first home league defeat of the season had long since been confirmed – particularly embarrassing against a side who had scored only two league goals before the night.

Taunton: Connor Sidley-Adams, Craig Mawford, Lee Smyth (Simon Ingram 45), Gary Saunders, Dave Hambly (James Blake 51), Andy Robertson (captain), Jamie Short , Joe Dakwa (Tom Hopkins 71), Neil Peek, Rodney Marsh, Craig Herrod. Unused subs: Corey Lewis, Raith Plant.

Referee: Mark Derrien (Dorchester). Assistants: James Durkin (Portland), Mark Lillington (Dorchester). Match Sponsor: Alice Cabs. Ball Sponsor: Peacocks Bingo. Attendance: 140.