National League South: St Albans City 6-0 Taunton Town

TAUNTON Town were on the receiving end of a pounding on Saturday (February 10) away from home against St Albans City.

It was a day to forget for the Peacocks as they were outplayed by the home side in the match in the Vanarama National League South.

Town were without Ollie Chamberlain, recovering from the effects of an X-rated tackle against Truro, and Zac Smith who was away while Nat Jarvis was named as a substitute despite carrying a knock. 

St Albans were in early, as in the 4th minute Shaun Jeffers clipped the ball past Dan Lavercombe for the opener, with the referee overruling an assistant’s offside flag.

Jeffers doubled the lead on the quarter hour with a close range finish from Jack James’ cross before Zane Banton’s shot took a deflection to find the far corner a minute before the break.

When the brow-beaten Peacocks emerged for the second half Marcus Day had replaced captain Nick Grimes who retired after tweaking his hamstring and for the opening quarter hour or so the contest almost became a training routine for the hosts who played it around without threatening. 

At 3-0 up, St Albans didn't take the foot off the gas and grabbed a fourth on 69 minutes when Jeffers secured his hat trick with a penalty after Cameron Evans had brought down George Hoddle.

Evander Grubb replaced Stearn with just under twenty minutes to go and the new introduction soon had Town’s only real chance of the half.

Bell’s cross was headed out for a corner from which Louie Slough flicked on to find Day and his pass put Grubb clear on the left but his attempt from the angle was blocked by Johnson at his near post.

City substitute Ibby Akanbi then saw his cross from the left was diverted into his own goal by Town centre half Dan Ball with three minutes remaining and then fellow sub Jake Burger clipped a deft pass through for Akanbi who slotted home past Lavercombe to complete the half dozen a minute from full time.

A painful afternoon for the Peacocks then as their winless run extends to 11 games and it is hard to see the situation getting better until various off-field issues are resolved.