Taunton Town faced Sholing in Southern League Premier

Taunton Town’s run of defeats extended to three games after they lost a close battle with Sholing at the Cygnet Health Care Stadium on Saturday (October 18).

In a close game between two teams with similar records heading into the fixture, one goal settled the contest in the second half although Taunton Town had a penalty to save a point, but it was saved.

Manager Richard Luffman named an unchanged starting XI from the midweek defeat at Plymouth Parkway after Jack Rice’s red card in that match was overturned by the Southern League.

Taunton Town made a decent start to the game and the first chance came their way as Ben Seymour was played in behind the back line but his effort was smothered by the Sholing goalkeeper. Matt Carson following up was unable to take advantage but Town kept the ball alive and Jack Rice had a shot but it was comfortably saved.

After a short break in play as the Sholing goalkeeper Craig King received treatment, Sholing seemed to come back into the game. On 21 minutes, Bradley Targett found space but screwed his shot wide.

Sholing continued to create chances in the first half with Dan Mason shooting wide and Vinnie Tume also coming close to scoring.

The visitors continued to create chances until half time, but the score remained level at the break.

Sholing thought they should have had a penalty on 49 minutes when Michael Folivi went down, but the referee gave the attacker a yellow card for simulation.

The visitors continued to create while Taunton tried to get the ball to their front three of Ben Seymour, Jack Rice and Alfie Moulden but it was the visitors who opened the scoring on 78 minutes as substitute Joe Rabbetts whipped in a cross from the left and Jake McCarthy came in at the back post to put it in into the net.

That forced Luffman into a double change as Jake Hodgson and Kane Simpson came on and it nearly paid instant results.

Hodgson was trying to bring the ball down in the penalty area and the ball appeared to strike a Sholing player on the hand. The referee pointed to the spot.

Ben Seymour stepped up but his low effort to the goalkeeper’s right was saved and King held onto the ball.

Taunton tried to push for an equaliser, but the most threatening chance actually fell to Sholing as Beaux Booth had a shot which was saved by Frankie Phillips.

There was a flurry of yellow cards in stoppage time but no goals.

Perhaps the biggest indication of how this match went is in that goalkeeper Frankie Phillips was voted man of the match.

The Peacocks now face Poole Town on Wednesday (October 22) before travelling to Hanwell on Saturday (October 25).