Taunton Town lost 2-0 at home to North Leigh in the Evo-Stik Southern league yesterday despite seeing a number of players return after unavailability, writes James Wright.

The visitors were first to threaten with a free-kick from twenty yards by Lewis Coyle that Connor Sidley-Adams did well to palm behind. Town responded, James Blake flashing a shot just wide at the end of a slick move.

Blake came even closer on the half-hour, rattling the cross-bar with a stunning strike. And, as half-time approached, captain Simon Ingram, returning to the starting line-up after injury, curled a free-kick just over as the home side continued to knock on the door.

North Leigh took the lead shortly after the break when a deep cross from the right was allowed to bounce in the penalty area, and Michael Hopkins sneaked in to nod the ball home at the back post.

Taunton never looked like recovering the deficit, fashioning only once chance of note when Craig Herrod just failed to connect with a low cross-cum-shot from Rodney Marsh.

The Oxfordshire side always carried the greater menace. Towering substitute Jimmy Deabill just cleared the bar with a header from a Hopkins cross after 77 minutes, and Hopkins himself almost nabbed a second with a viciously curling right foot effort.

Five minutes from time, Sidley-Adams was dismissed for a professional foul on lively striker John Mills. Mills picked himself up to rap the penalty past stand-in keeper Rob Norrish and secure North Leigh's first win in five visits to Wordsworth Drive.

Taunton: Connor Sidley-Adams, Andy Robertson, Dave Hambly (Corey Lewis 74), Gary Saunders, Ben Mammola, Rob Norrish, James Blake, Simon Ingram (captain), Neil Peek (Jamie Short 64), Rodney Marsh, Craig Herrod. Unused subs: Tom Hopkins, Craig Mawford, Lee Smyth.

Referee: Adam Ricketts (Bristol).

Assistants: Stephen Fearnley (Bristol), Samuel Fudge (Bristol).

Match & Ball Sponsor: Tim & Tony Rutland.

Attendance: 230.