Southern League Challenge Cup

Taunton Town 2, Street 5

A YOUNG Taunton Town side were comfortably beaten by Street in the Southern League Challenge Cup as the Peacocks began life after Leigh Robinson.

Phil Ormrod scored a hat-trick for the visitors, with Andrew Neal netting both of Taunton's goals on a night in which the home side were second best.

Interim boss Rob Dray named a side featuring just three first team regulars - Shane White, Neal and Craig Veal - alongside a number of teenagers as part of the club's link up with Bridgwater & Taunton College.

The hosts started the game brightly, keeping possession well, and Neal forced Joe Moore into a routine save with a low shot.

Street then netted twice in the space of four first-half minutes, breaking the deadlock when Scott Thomas thumped home a free header from a corner after quarter of an hour.

Ormrod doubled the lead from the spot shortly afterwards after Jack Dray fouled Josh Wadham, and it was 3-0 on 38 minutes when Craig Herrod found the bottom corner with a crisp left-footed finish.

Neal pulled one back immediately, drilling home from inside the area, before Harry Foster was inches away from the goal of the night as his overhead kick thundered off the crossbar.

Street put the result beyond doubt soon after the restart when Ormrod converted a cross past Irish on the stretch for his second of the night.

Veal should have reduced the arrears on the hour only for Moore to make a fine double save, but Neal completed his brace courtesy of a fine finish with the outside of the boot from a high ball dropping over his shoulder.

That was not the end of the scoring, however, as Ormrod completed his hat-trick with a low finish under Irish on 80 minutes.

Taunton boss Rob Dray said: "It was a great experience for our young lads - we had four 16-year-olds playing tonight - and it forges our partnership with BTC.

"They didn't stop trying and were brave on the ball, which is all we can ask.

"Rocky [Neal] needed to play and got his two goals, so it sets us up nicely for a big FA Cup game on Saturday."

Dray and Matt Villis will continue to take charge for Saturday's match against Wessex League Premier Division outfit Bemerton Heath Harlequins.

"It has been a whirlwind 48 hours for everyone but it's a massive game on Saturday," he said.

"The FA have doubled the prize money so every game is huge. With Taunton there are expectations after our run to the first round two years ago, so it's a big one."

Taunton Town: Lloyd Irish, Patrick O'Halloran, Finlay Biggs, Mario Franco, Tom Stone, Jack Dray (Ollie Chamberlain 45), Shane White (c), Noah Coppin, Liam Gilbert (Ollie Down 53), Andrew Neal, Craig Veal