Evo-Stik South West

Taunton Town 3, Wimborne Town 3

TAUNTON Town were denied three points by the last kick of the game as Wimborne Town left the Viridor Stadium with a deserved share of the spoils after a thrilling encounter.

Billy Maybury's super free-kick levelled it up for the visitors - who had captain Scott Arnold sent off midway through the second period - after Dan Sullivan had scored what looked like the winner in the last minute of normal time, with Craig Veal and Toby Holmes each having struck twice in an entertaining first half.

Wimborne arrived at Wordsworth Drive unbeaten in eight games and had the first chance, with Lloyd Irish called into early action to deny Luke Burbidge.

Irish was having to act as a sweeper-keeper with Taunton vulnerable to the pace of Burbidge and Holmes in behind, and the 'keeper paid for rushing out when Holmes beat him to the ball and tumbled under the challenge just inside the area.

The frontman picked himself up to bury the penalty, but Taunton hit back and equalised when Veal turned and fired home from just inside the box on 27 minutes.

Just three minutes later a fine move led to a second, as Sullivan's neat flick sent Buse away down the right-hand side and Veal was on hand to convert the cross with a first time finish.

Wimborne were then indebted to goalkeeper Gerard Benfield, who kept out fizzing long-range efforts from Sullivan and Matt Wright to keep his side in touch.

They capitalised on that to level it up just before the break with a fine finish from Holmes, who fired in off the post from a tight angle with all the confidence of a man who has now scored nine goals in four games and 47 in all competitions this season.

Holmes could have sealed his hat-trick midway through the second half when played clean through, but this time Irish won the battle as he kept out a low finish with his feet.

Moments later the visitors were down to 10 men as Arnold paid the price for a reckless lunge on Sullivan, and Veal nearly made them pay instantly as his superb half volley from the corner of the box was kept out by an equally fine save by Benfield as the ball arrowed towards the top corner.

Ben Adelsbury then saw his effort from close range disallowed for offside, with Michael Meaker sent from the touchline for his complaints in the aftermath, and Wimborne retained their threat at the other end as Holmes fired a snapshot straight at Irish.

With time running out, substitute Les Afful nutmegged his man down the wing and delivered a cross which was cleared only as far as Sullivan, whose deflected effort curled into the far corner to spark rapturous celebrations on the bench and the terraces.

The job wasn't done, however, and Afful went from hero to villain with a late challenge which handed Wimborne one last chance on the edge of the box.

Maybury stepped up to curl the free-kick in off the post and bring about equally wild scenes in the visiting end, sealing a draw - a fair reflection of proceedings.

Next up for Taunton is a home match against Kidlington on Saturday.

Taunton Town: Lloyd Irish, Toby Down, Nuno Felix, Ben Adelsbury, Shane White, Josh Nelmes, Matt Buse, Ollie Chamberlain, Matt Wright (c), Dan Sullivan, Craig Veal (Les Afful)