Evo-Stik Southern League West
Bideford 0, Taunton Town 1

TAUNTON Town extended their unbeaten league run to 28 games and their lead at the top of the Evo-Stik Southern League West table to 17 points after captain Matt Wright netted the only goal of the game at Bideford on Monday.

Having wrapped up promotion on Saturday - in part thanks to Bideford losing 3-0 at Evesham United on Friday - the Peacocks took another step towards claiming the title after a match which saw both sides miss plenty of good chances.

Town were without Craig Veal - who scored the winner on Saturday - and Matt Buse was only fit enough for the bench, so Josh Nelmes and Ollie Chamberlain came into midfield.

A great chance came and went for the visitors on six minutes, as Pierce Mitchell picked out fellow wing-back Nuno Felix, unmarked in the box, but his looping header came back off the crossbar.

Mitchell's running down the right was causing the hosts problems, as his whipped cross could only be turned over the top by Wright, before Shane White also shot over following a Ryan Brett free-kick.

Ryan Turner forced a good save from visiting keeper Lloyd Irish, before Dan Sullivan missed another presentable chance for the Peacocks, as he ran onto Wright's flick-on, lobbed Steve Oliver in goal but could only find the side netting.

After that opportunity, the final 15 minutes of the first half rather petered out, with the away side on top but unable to take advantage.

Sullivan continued to plug away for the Peacocks after the break, seeing a shot well blocked in front of the line following Felix's throw-in, and Mitchell also had an effort saved by Oliver.

Both sides wasted good chances just after the hour mark, as Turner blasted wide when one-on-one with Irish after being found by Sean Downing, before Sullivan was denied by Oliver after being put clean through by Chamberlain.

Finally Taunton did take advantage of an opportunity in front of goal, with 73 minutes gone, as Chamberlain's header was saved by Oliver but Wright was in the right place to convert the rebound.

Sullivan had yet another shot saved by Oliver, and Felix sent another effort off target, as the Peacocks saw out the victory - but only after Ian Sampson had blasted wide of goal in stoppage time for the hosts.

With second-placed Salisbury beaten 4-2 away to Wimborne Town, for whom Toby Holmes netted a hat-trick, it means that Taunton only need five points from their six remaining games to clinch the title.

Next up for the league leaders is a home match with Evesham United, this Saturday, April 7 (ko 3pm).

Taunton Town: Lloyd Irish, Pierce Mitchell, Nuno Felix, Ben Adelsbury (Toby Down 76), Keith Emmerson, Shane White, Josh Nelmes, Ryan Brett, Matt Wright (c), Dan Sullivan (Les Afful 84), Ollie Chamberlain.
Substitutes (not used): Joel Randall, Alpha Sow, Matt Buse.