Evo-Stik Southern League
Premier Division South
Gosport Borough 1, Taunton Town 2

TAUNTON Town went to the top of the Premier Division South standings with a 2-1 win away to mid-table Gosport Borough on Saturday.

Goals from Lewis Hall and Dan Sullivan handed the Peacocks the points, sending them into pole position with previous leaders Weymouth losing at Kings Langley.

The visitors were without injured captain Matt Wright, and midfield dynamo Ollie Chamberlain, and they made an uncertain start, with Lloyd Irish having to make a save from Patrick Suraci inside the first two minutes.

Gosport fielded manager Craig McAllister and assistant Matt Tubbs (both players with Football League experience) up front, and McAllister soon headed over from a Suraci cross.

But steadily the Peacocks began to get a grip on the game, and Sullivan forced a save from home keeper Pat O'Flaherty, with Ed Palmer heading over from the subsequent corner.

The breakthrough came on 20 minutes, Pierce Mitchell making ground down the right-hand side and setting up Hall to slot in for his first Taunton goal.

The rest of the first half was all Taunton, as they won a series of corners and Craig Veal saw a shot well saved.

Andrew Neal headed wide from Ben Adelsbury's ball in, and then Sullivan found the net just before the break, only for it to be disallowed with Neal touching it when in an offside position.

The away side continued to pile the pressure on after the interval, with Neal being denied by O'Flaherty, Palmer hitting the post and Sullivan firing over.

Finally the second goal came, on 59 minutes; Sullivan weaved his way through a curled the ball into the bottom corner left-footed to double the lead.

Chances continued to come, Mitchell and Palmer both having efforts saved, but Gosport were still in the game and they mounted a late rally.

Substitute Ryan Pennery pulled one back, but the Peacocks withstood the pressure in added time to come away with a 2-1 win.

With Weymouth beaten 2-1 at Kings Langley, Taunton are now two points clear at the top with 32 points, although they have played a game more than Weymouth and Salisbury (who won 4-2 over Hartley Wintney), with both of those teams on 30 points.

Taunton's next match is away to Farnborough, next Saturday (ko 3pm).

Taunton Town: Lloyd Irish, Pierce Mitchell, Lewis Hall, Ben Adelsbury, Ed Palmer, Shane White (c), Matt Buse, Ryan Brett, Dan Sullivan, Andrew Neal, Craig Veal (Josh Nelmes 79). Subs not used: Brett Trowbridge, Keith Emmerson.