Evo-Stik Southern League West
Bristol Manor Farm 1, Taunton Town 1

TAUNTON Town missed the chance to move six points clear in the Evo-Stik Southern League standings, but Pierce Mitchell's goal ensured that they took a point from their match at fellow promotion hopefuls Bristol Manor Farm.

League leaders Town brought Chris McGrath and Ryan Brett into the side for Brett Trowbridge and Ben Palmer, in the only two changes from the weekend's line-up.

The early momentum was with the visitors, who saw Dan Sullivan shoot straight at goalkeeper Ashley Clark, but it was the home side - third in the table going into the match - who took the lead on 18 minutes.

Ben Bament's ball in fell for Jordan Metters, who thumped the ball past Lloyd Irish.

The Peacocks threw everything forward, but found clear-cut chances hard to come by, and so they trailed 1-0 at the break.

They kept pushing upon the resumption, and saw Matt Wright head narrowly over from a Brett corner, before Shane White had a goal ruled out for offside.

They finally levelled the match on 69 minutes, as Mitchell - who saved a point for Town away to Slimbridge a month ago - took aim, and found the net with the aid of a deflection off Manor Farm defender Lloyd Mills.

Mitchell could well have won it too, but Clark made a superb point-blank save to deny the Taunton man, and it finished honours even.

The result means that the Peacocks move onto 36 points, four clear of Manor Farm and Bideford, with games in hand on both.

On Saturday, they travel to face 13th-placed Larkhall Athletic (ko 3pm).

Taunton Town: Lloyd Irish, Pierce Mitchell, Ross Staley (Ben Palmer 32), Shane White, Chris McGrath, Ben Adelsbury, Ollie Chamberlain (Omar Simpson 67), Ryan Brett, Matt Wright (c), Dan Sullivan (Les Afful 79), Matt Buse.
Sub not used: Tom Stone.
Attendance: 311