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

MATT Wright and Pierce Mitchell's goals gave Taunton Town a magnificent victory away to league leaders Hereford, but just as important was a heroic rearguard effort in the second half. 

The win was the Peacocks' 10th in a row, and handed Hereford their first home league defeat of the season.

Town began the match like the team in form, coming off the back of those nine previous victories, and strikers Wright and Jordan Rogers both went close.

On 17 minutes they were rewarded for that early intent as Wright fired home - and a second goal came only three minutes later, Mitchell volleying home Ollie Chamberlain's cross to put the visitors 2-0 up and the vocal travelling support into dreamland.

That was how it remained to the interval, but the second half was a very different story - as wave upon wave of Hereford attacks came rushing towards Lloyd Irish's goal.

John Mills finished from close range following a 54th-minute goalmouth scramble to halve the hosts' deficit, and Town were on the back foot for the remainder of the match.

But they clung onto their lead, with centre-back Owen Irish giving a man of the match performance and fellow defender Ed Palmer clearing off the line with five minutes left.

The stunning win sees them remain on the cusp of the playoff places (two points behind Salisbury and Mangotsfield United), with the first of their games in hand to come on Tuesday, at home to Larkhall Athletic (ko 7.45pm).

Boss Leigh Robinson said: "Whilst we can enjoy the day, we have to remember that it is only one day and we've only got three points.

"We have to go back to work on Tuesday night at home in a fixture where we'll be favourites and the pressure will be on us which arguably it wasn't today.

"So, no time to pat ourselves on the back and plenty more challenges to come."

Taunton: Lloyd Irish, Pierce Mitchell, Owen Irish, Ed Palmer, Matt Villis, Ross Staley (Ben Palmer 66), Shane White, Brett Trowbridge (c), Ollie Chamberlain, Matt Wright, Jordan Rogers (Craig Veal 70).
Subs not used: Craig Duff, Josh Searle, Alex Hoyle.

Attendance: 2,917.