Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 S&W
Bideford 2, Taunton Town 4

JORDAN Rogers caught Bideford napping with a quick-fire double which proved decisive as Taunton Town claimed a 4-2 away win.

It was the Peacocks' eighth consecutive victory in the league, but one of their hardest-fought in that stellar run of form, with further goals from Owen Irish and Ross Staley keeping the home side at bay.

Town boss Leigh Robinson made two changes from the Boxing Day victory over Tiverton, with Rogers and Alex Hoyle coming into the side for Craig Duff and Matt Villis.

And it was the returning Rogers - who had scored twice as a substitute against Tiverton - who gave Town the lead after just 49 seconds, as the hosts lost possession and the Peacocks frontman broke clear to slot into the net.

Two minutes later, Matt Wright and defender Kai Fisher jumped to meet a long ball forward, the flick-on reached Rogers, and he again found the net - a quite incredible start for him and the Peacocks.

Ex-Bideford man and set-piece specialist Ed Palmer struck the post with a free-kick, before Rogers missed a golden chance for a 15-minute hat-trick - Bideford keeper Grant Fisher mis-hit a kick straight to the striker, but he hesitated and Fisher saved his effort with his feet. 

Fisher denied Rogers again seven minutes later, this time diving to turn a 20-yard effort round the post, but from that point Bideford upped the pressure on their visitors.

That intent was rewarded with a goal on 34 minutes, James Richards powering a 25-yard free-kick into the bottom left-hand corner for 2-1.

Town were far from shaken by that goal, however, as they restored their two-goal lead two minutes later, Owen Irish heading in Shane White's corner.

Somerset County Gazette:

Owen Irish (number four) heads Taunton into a 3-1 lead. Pic: Tim Norbury

After the break, Hoyle put the ball in the net but the linesman ruled Wright to be offside, before Lloyd Irish saved well from Matt Andrew at the other end.

The Peacocks effectively wrapped the game up in the 67th minute with a fourth goal, as Ollie Chamberlain set up Staley and he fired a left-foot shot past Fisher.

Three goals down, the hosts went gung ho, and Kai Fisher somehow contrived to volley wide of an open goal, before Richards did pull one back on 83 minutes - his second goal of the game was another free-kick, this time from 20 yards.

Town saw the game out - though not before Lloyd Irish was forced into a fine reaction save from Billy Tucker to deny Bideford a third - and an eighth win in a row was on the board.

They remain seventh in the Division 1 South & West table, but are closing in on the playoff spots ahead of this Saturday's match at home to AFC Totton (ko 3pm).

Taunton: Lloyd Irish, Pierce Mitchell, Owen Irish, Ed Palmer, Alex Hoyle (Matt Villis 73), Ross Staley, Shane White, Brett Trowbridge, Ollie Chamberlain (Josh Searle 82), Matt Wright, Jordan Rogers (Craig Veal 64). Subs not used: Matt Buse, Ben Palmer.

Attendance: 301.