TAUNTON Town and Poole Town shared the points in a 1-1 draw at the Cygnet Health Care Stadium today.

A first half goal from Ross Stearn gave Taunton the lead but a penalty in the second half converted by Tony Lee levelled the scores.

After the match Taunton manager Rob Dray said there are some positives to take from the match but would have preferred three points.

"There is loads of positives to take from that match, however I am disappointed not to get the three points.

"We were the better team in the first half but were slow off the mark in the second and that is where Poole got their chances," Dray said.

 

Taunton kicked off the match and held the majority of possession in the early exchanges.

While Poole created a half chance early through Tony Lee, all other action was coming from Taunton and Ross Stearn in particular was on form.

He created at least three chances in the first twenty minutes either for himself or his teammates and was rewarded in the 25th minute with a goal.

Jay Foulston found himself with the ball in space on the edge of the box and unleashed a shot that the keeper could only parry straight to Stearn who blasted it home.

For the rest of the half Taunton should have probably extended the lead but were undone either by a save or some stubborn defence and at the break it was 1-0.

In the second period Poole Town looked a different side and had picked up momentum through few shots from the edge of the area.

One chance should have really gone in the net but Ioan Richards performed an unbelievable goal line block to keep the Poole shot out.

However in the 58th minute the visitors were awarded a penalty which their top scorer Tony Lee smashed down the middle and the scores were level.

Taunton snapped out of the slump they were in and did create a number of quality chances.

It has to be said they were on top and the more likely to score however Poole were looking to get a goal on the counter.

Ollie Chamberlain was brought down in the box late in the game which looked like a clear penalty but the referee waved away the Taunton appeals.

The game fizzled out to a score draw which maybe is a fair reflection of two teams who are just one point apart in the Pitching In Southern League table.

Up next, Taunton travel to Weston-super-Mare for the fourth time this season, this time in the League Cup.

Kick off is 7:45pm on Tuesday night.