TAUNTON Town boss Rob Dray was delighted with his side’s response to adversity as they ended their festive losing run with a 3-2 win over Gosport Borough on Saturday.

Town had seen an early lead slip and trailed 2-1 for an hour before late goals from Dan Sullivan and Ollie Chamberlain in the space of two second half minutes earned Town the three points.

The victory was a welcome return to winning ways after back-to-back derby defeats against Weston-super-Mare and Tiverton Town over the festive period and the Town boss praised the “mentality” of his side.

Dray said: “It felt like everything was against us today – the referee, two of our best players [Nick Grimes and Andrew Neal] coming off injured – so to come back and win was very pleasing.

“We keep ticking over and we are in a good position in a very tight league. There are still eight or nine teams who could realistically win it.

“These are the sort of wins we could look back on at the end of the season as being crucial.”

The atmosphere around the stadium was subdued during a below-par first half, which ended with Town 2-1 down and on their way to what would have been a third straight defeat.

Dealing with enhanced expectations has become part of Dray’s remit and he admitted his side may “have to adjust” in certain respects.

“It is not very often in the last few years Taunton have been off the back of two losses,” he said.

“Supporters aren’t used to it, players aren’t used to it, we as coaches aren’t used to it. It’s a new thing for us all.

“We have to adjust to that and realise we are not going to win every game in this tight league. We adjusted really well today and I am really pleased with the three lads who came off the bench.

“I started to think it wasn’t going to be our day again but we kept going. We will always make a chance – that’s the sort of team we are.”

Dray was far from impressed by the performance of referee Steven Annis, who gave a penalty to each side in the opening 10 minutes.

Andrew Neal missed the first of those, though Ryan Brett was on hand to convert the rebound, and Rory Williams equalised shortly afterwards when Gosport were awarded a spot kick of their own.

Both penalties were awarded for aerial challenges by defenders, with Matt Wright bundled over by Dan Strugnell before Nick Grimes was penalised for pulling down Chris Flood at a corner.

“I thought ours was a penalty and theirs wasn’t,” Dray said.

“Their players were running away from it thinking it was our free-kick – nobody even appealed.

“I don’t like laying into referees but he made some bizarre decisions today.”

Among the players to have impressed Dray in the victory was Ryley Towler, the 17-year-old Bristol City loanee who joined the club on Friday and played the final 18 minutes against Boro.

He replaces Zac Smith, who is now on loan at Bath City from the Championship side, in Town’s squad and Dray believes Towler’s versatility will prove an asset.

“He’s a year younger than Zac but has played quite a few times for Bristol City’s under-23s,” Dray said.

“He is left footed and can play left-back, centre-back, left midfield or holding midfield – he can play three or four positions, which is really good.”

Town’s boss is hoping Exeter City loanee Harry Kite, who missed Saturday’s win as he was in the Grecians’ matchday squad against Ipswich Town, will be with his side until the end of the season.

On Grimes and Neal, both withdrawn before the hour mark with injuries, Dray added: “Both were hamstrings.

“Hopefully it is nothing too serious, which is why we got them off as early as we could, so fingers crossed.”