Southern League Division 1S&W
Barnstaple Town 0, Taunton Town 1

Not for the first time this season, Craig Veal climbed off the bench to earn Taunton the three points on Tuesday night, although the match at Mill Road, Barnstaple, will not live very long in the memory, writes Kerry Miller.

The win takes the Peacocks up to 14th in the table with games in hand on everyone else but the passing form which had brought them fame and rich pickings a few weeks earlier was conspicuous by its absence for most of the game, despite dominating for much of it.

Missing Pierce Mitchell and Ed Palmer, Leigh Robinson went with Jordan Rogers and Matt Wright with Adam Kelly, Ollie Chamberlain and Brett Trowbridge pushing on, while new signing from Bridgwater Town, Ben Palmer, was on the bench.

The opening exchanges flattered to deceive as Adam Kelly was gifted the ball with just the keeper to beat but lobbed a foot wide before at the other end Niall Heeney set up James Blake who fired across the away goal and out.

The game was stop-start with many free-kicks for fouls and offsides, and the game lost its shape until Kelly and Wright had efforts blocked just short of the half hour.

Shane White then set up Kelly who cut in and went close before his cross found Ross Staley who saw his shot blocked, from which Barum broke and Blake’s effort was pushed onto the post and away for a corner.

Robinson sent Veal on in place of Rogers at the break and within seconds Staley had wriggled along the byline and pulled back for Veal to watch his stabbed effort hacked off the line.

Ollie Chamberlain then made way for Josh Searle and within a minute Town were ahead. Kelly swung in a corner and Owen Irish nodded back for Veal to head home from a yard out on 55 minutes.

Kelly was influential in most attacks and he then found the post with a curling effort on the hour as Town looked to close the game out and gain revenge for the 1-0 defeat earlier in the season.

Barum had a big shout for a penalty when Lloyd Irish flew out to parry a through ball, colliding with Ryan Turner in the process, before Kelly was substituted for Palmer, who made his debut with 18 minutes left.

Full back Liam Gregory had his side’s best chance moments later when he strode through but shot wide of Irish's goal from 15 yards.

In seven minutes of added time, substitute Kyle Paine hammered a shot which Irish parried, the final play of a forgettable game.

Team: Lloyd Irish, Shane White, Ross Staley, Owen Irish, Matt Villis, Alex Hoyle, Ollie Chamberlain, Brett Trowbridge, Matt Wright, Jordan Rogers, Adam Kelly.

Subs used: Craig Veal, Josh Searle, Ben Palmer.

Att 133.