Pre-season friendly
Clevedon Town 2, Taunton Town 4

TAUNTON Town began their public friendly campaign on Friday night with a useful run-out against Western League side Clevedon Town at the Hand Stadium, where new boy Jared Lewington netted a 10-minute hat-trick as the Peacocks threatened a goal avalanche, writes Kerry Miller.

To their credit, the home side - managed by former Bristol City favourite Mickey Bell - regrouped and scored twice themselves as both teams cautiously dipped a toe in the new season.

Taunton were quick out of the blocks with Dan Sullivan’s pace and ball control causing the home side no shortage of headaches.

After Sullivan had gone close, referee Andy Gorman pointed to the spot following a hand ball, and Gethin Hill hammered home the spot kick on 11 minutes.

Moments later Lewington was presented with the ball in the box and he rolled it into an empty net, before Sullivan squared to the former Tiverton Town and Torquay United man to make it three.

Lewington completed his hat-trick two minutes later with an assist from Hill, by which time the shell-shocked home side were looking at a hammering.

Clevedon pulled a goal back through young striker Morgan Williams, who was given too much room in the box, then Ben Adelsbury’s header was poached on the line by home keeper Charles Lovell, who could only watch as a Hill drive flashed wide.

A raft of substitutions meant the second half became more fragmented, but Glen Hayer’s spectacular volley flew past Lloyd Irish with 20 minutes left to give the scoreline a slightly more respectable look for the hosts.

Taunton Town: Lloyd Irish, Jay Foulston, Ben Adelsbury, Ollie Chamberlain, Lee Lucas, Dan Sullivan, Joe Guest, Gethyn Hill, Dan McBeam, Ross Staley, Jared Lewlington. Subs: Louie Edmondson, Joe Charles, Ross Edwards, D Gould, Joe Belsten.

Taunton's next fixture is at home to League Two side Exeter City, this coming Tuesday (July 13, 7.30pm).