Evo-Stik Southern League
Premier Division South
Frome Town 2, Taunton Town 0

TWO goals in the first eight minutes handed Frome Town a 2-0 win over Taunton Town on Saturday, extending the Peacocks' winless league run to four matches.

Troy Simpson and Tom Mehew's early strikes secured a precious victory for the hosts - who are battling against relegation - despite the sending off of Rickie Scott.

The Peacocks reverted to a more customary line-up following their Somerset Premier Cup quarter-final victory in midweek, but with Chandler Hallett in for Lloyd Irish in goal, and captain Matt Wright dropped to the bench.

Yet they suffered a nightmare start, falling behind in the first minute, as Simpson was able to fire into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Bad became worse seven minutes later, Mehew's free-kick catching the wind and finding the top corner, to leave the visitors with a mountain to climb inside the first 10 minutes.

Simpson should have doubled his tally five minutes after that, only to head wide while completely unmarked, before Taunton began to get a grip of the game.

Ollie Chamberlain's shot was kept out by a fine Rob Brown save, and then Andrew Neal struck the post after Ryan Brett's ball in.

Mehew came close to adding a second free-kick goal for the hosts, his strike whistling past the post, but Frome were down to 10 men a minute before half-time, Scott seeing red for a high foot in a collision with Pierce Mitchell.

Striker Wright was introduced by boss Rob Dray upon the restart, and the Peacocks had their hosts pinned back in their own half for much of the second half.

Keith Emmerson and Dan Sullivan sent efforts wide, and then Shane White's header was off target from Brett's corner.

The dominance continued without reward, Brett seeing a free-kick tipped over and Josh Nelmes heading over the top from the resulting corner.

The failure to make a breakthrough saw the match peter out, Frome rewarded for their fast start and second-half resilience.

Taunton Town: Chandler Hallett, Pierce Mitchell, Shane White (c), Josh Nelmes, Ed Palmer (Matt Wright 46), Keith Emmerson, Matt Buse (Lucas Tomlinson 79), Ollie Chamberlain, Ryan Brett, Dan Sullivan (Craig Veal 63), Andrew Neal.
Subs not used: Lewis Hall, Matt Villis.
Attendance: 261 

The result allowed Weymouth to extend their lead at the top of the table to two points, after a 0-0 draw at Wimborne Town, but Taunton remain in second spot after Salisbury lost 2-0 at Tiverton Town.

Next Saturday sees Taunton host play-off chasers Poole Town at the Viridor Stadium (ko 3pm).