Taunton Town 0-0 Braintree Town

TAUNTON Town and Braintree Town played out a feisty 0-0 draw at the Cygnet Health Care Stadium this afternoon (December 3).

It was set to be a tough challenge for the Peacocks as Braintree sat in fifth place in the National League South.

However it was 16th placed Taunton who were perhaps more disappointed with the draw as they looked the most likely to score.

The statistics saw Braintree manage just one shot on target in the 90 minutes, highlighting once again how strong Taunton are at home.

The first chance of the game fell to midfielder Lee Lucas; he got past his defender and launched a shot that went narrowly wide of the post.

Captain Nick Grimes was next to challenge the goal when the corner fell at his feet at the back post however his shot was saved.

Lloyd James then shot from distance but it was comfortably saved by the Braintree keeper.

There was a first half injury substitution for Braintree after a crunching challenge but that was all the action in the first period.

The second half featured more tackles and fouls then it did chances and the referee struggled to keep the game under control.

Jack Byrcroft was nearly cught out as he was dispossed outside the bx but a defensive scramble spaired his blushes.

Nick McCootie was subbed on for Dave Sims-Burgess on the 60 minute mark to change up the forward line for Taunton.

Jarvis gave way to Ross Stearn, making his first appearance since the FA Cup game at MK Dons, as both sides laboured towards a breakthrough in the final quarter, with tempers becoming increasingly frayed due to the decision making of the man in black.

A James free kick in from the right gave Sims an easy catch while the Iron keeper was out quickly to clear ahead of Stearn who had looked to capitalise on Lucas’ pass.

Penalty appeals after Lamar Reynolds went down in the box were ignored at the opposite end before five minutes of stoppage time so nearly proved calamitous for the Peacocks.

A long clearance saw Smith try to hold Aaron Blair off as Bycroft rushed out his goal to clear.

Smith slipped, Bycroft missed, and Blair looked odds-on to snatch the winner as he fired towards an open net from the right side of the box, however Guest made a brilliant intervention to divert the ball wide with an outstretched leg.

The danger continued from the resultant Alfie Payne corner, Jack Cawley’s glancing header at the near post rebounding off the bar.

The score was 0-0 and a good result on paper for Taunton as they earned a point against fifth place. But as mentioned already, it was a game the Peacocks could and probably should have won.