Taunton Town 1-0 Tiverton Town (3-1 on penalties)

TAUNTON Town wrapped up their home pre-season action with a win over Tiverton Town on Tuesday night (July 25).

After the 1-0 win, Taunton went on to win 3-1 on penalties as well. The match was used as practice for a shootout later in the season.

In the match, a Nat Jarvis goal was the difference, and the striker looked in good knick in his stint on the pitch.

The only goal of the match came after 19 minutes when Jarvis headed home from a Lloyd James free kick.

He did well to find space in the box and free himself from the defender. He then rose highest to head home untouched for what was a good goal.

The hosts came close to adding more during the first half, Lee Lucas shaving the woodwork with a free kick and then steering a Ross Stearn cross against the post.

Chances were scarcer after the break with Dan Lavercombe making a fine save from Niall Thompson to keep the Peacocks’ lead intact.  

Tiverton did well to create some chances themselves and the game was in the balance.

Just for good measure, the home side won a penalty shoot-out after the game by a 3-1 margin.

After the match, head of football Rob Dray said he was pleased with how things are going this pre-season.

"We tried to put some contingency stuff in place today and wanted to set up how we would in the league.

"We sat in a bit to get that extra practice in, our set pieces and crosses was really good today. And Tiverton made it a little bit difficult for us today.

"You have to remember it is a derby game so it was a little sloppy in parts, but there were a lot of good things on show as well."

In the match, Dray tried out a couple of new formations and at one point had a back four playing, something unusual for Taunton in recent seasons.

He said: "We went to a back four for a while in the game as we wanted to try this out.

"I thought it worked well, we looked good with four. It is something we are working on and it will require a strong link between the back four and the goalkeeper.

"But speaking on Dan (Lavercombe), he made some top saves and looks really good."

Three of those saves came in the penalty shootout, helping Taunton win that as well.