FOOTBALL: Taunton Town lose 1-0 at home (From This is The West Country)

FOOTBALL: Taunton Town lose 1-0 at home

9:35am Thursday 14th March 2013 in Sport

SHORTWOOD United turned in an impressive performance to beat Taunton Town 1-0 on their first ever visit to Wordsworth Drive last night, writes James Wright.

The Gloucestershire side, enjoying a solid first season in the Evo-Stik Southern having been promoted from the Hellenic league, monopolised possession at the start.

But Town were equally competent defensively, resulting in a first half of limited opportunities.

Taunton had a fabulous chance to open the scoring on the quarter hour when Craig Herrod beat advancing keeper Tom King to the ball and picked out Carl Cliff Brown, but the striker's header missed the gaping net.

Shortwood's best moment of the first half came when Terry Bohane made a probing run down the right flank and fed the ball inside to Joe Tustain. The latter set up Luke Gullick and the midfielder's shot was saved well by Grant Fisher.

Captain Jake Parrott flashed a shot just wide as the visitors continued to enjoy territorial advantage at the start of the second period.

But Town hit back, and Jamie Short curled a left foot shot just over the bar after an exciting burst down the right flank.

Taunton finally began to carry a threat in the final quarter. A brilliant free kick by captain Simon Ingram was met by an equally brilliant save from King.

Then Rodney Marsh was denied by a post after outstripping the defence and rounding the keeper.

Centre-back Mark Pritchett headed over from a corner as Shortwood continued to pose a threat. They finally bagged a deserved winner when substitute Kevin Slack out-muscled the home defence to bundle the ball over the line fourteen minutes from time.

Taunton: Grant Fisher, James Short, Alex Jeannin (John Harris 83), Owen Irish, Kyrtis MacKenzie, Rob Norrish (Raith Plant 76), Clay Bond (Khaled Badavi 73), Simon Ingram (captain), Carl Cliff Brown, Rodney Marsh, Craig Herrod. Unused subs: Ed Weeks, Tom Hopkins.

Shortwood: Tom King, Callum Brown, Matt Bennett, Mark Pritchett, James Coates, Luke Gullick, Joe Tustain, Jake Parrott (captain), Terry Bohane, James Baldwin, John Cant (Kevin Slack 65). Unused subs: Jody Bevan, Andy Hoskins.

Referee: David Ricketts (Portishead).

Assistants: Andrew Gibbons (Burnham-on-Sea), Joanna Stimpson (Street).

Match Sponsor: Jonathan Williams Carpets.

Matchball Sponsor: Somerset County Sports.

Attendance: 104.