Evo-Stik Southern League
Premier Division South
Tiverton Town 1, Taunton Town 3

TAUNTON Town claimed the derby bragging rights on Bank Holiday Monday by consigning Tiverton Town to their first defeat of the season.

Goals from Matt Wright, Ollie Chamberlain and Matt Buse ensured the Peacocks took the three points home from Devon, having bested their rivals in front of 749 fans.

Taunton manager Leigh Robinson reverted to his tried-and-tested three at the back after conceding three at home to Hendon on Saturday, while the returning Brett Trowbridge was named among the substitutes.

A fiesty opening to the game saw few chances created, but on 15 minutes the visitors were relieved to see Shane White clear the ball off the line from Tom Bath's effort amid a goalmouth scramble.

The action then shifted to the other end, with Ben Adelsbury seeing a free-kick saved by Liam Armstrong, and a penalty being awarded after the referee spotted a shirt-pull from the corner. 

Skipper Wright stepped up, just as he had in the dying seconds against Hendon, and he put the spot-kick straight down the middle to make it 1-0 on 23 minutes.

The lead only lasted 15 minutes, however, as the home side hit back in style - River Allen volleying in the equaliser from 25 yards after Levi Landricombe's cross was only half-cleared.

Level it remained at the break, but then Taunton edged back ahead two minutes before the hour mark, when Wright did well down the left and found Chamberlain at the far post to head in unopposed.

Adelsbury flicked Ryan Brett's corner just wide as the Peacocks continued to threaten, while Tiverton struggled to haul themselves back into it.

The final flourish came three minutes into stoppage time, as substitute Andrew Neal played a square ball across and Buse found the bottom corner.

Taunton Town: Lloyd Irish, Pierce Mitchell, Ben Adelsbury (Josh Nelmes 82), Keith Emmerson, Shane White, Ollie Chamberlain, Ryan Brett, Matt Wright (c), Dan Sullivan (Andrew Neal 69), Matt Buse.
Subs not used: Craig Veal, Josh Nelmes, Tom Stone, Brett Trowbridge.

Next up for Taunton is a home clash with Basingstoke Town, this Saturday (September 1, ko 3pm) at the Viridor Stadium.