FOOTBALL: Taunton lose to Shortwood United in Evo Stik league (From This is The West Country)

FOOTBALL: Taunton lose to Shortwood United in Evo Stik league

11:08pm Tuesday 4th September 2012 in Sport

Taunton’s four game unbeaten run came to an end with a 2-1 defeat at newly-promoted Shortwood United tonight, writes James Wright.

Having come from behind to win their previous two games, it was Town's turn to let slip a half-time lead as they struggled to come to terms with the absence of influential defenders Ben Mammola and Dave Hambly.

Shortwood had the first chance of the night on seven minutes, but Leon Meredith fired wide. Taunton first threatened after 27 minutes when Craig Herrod set up Rodney Marsh whose shot was charged down.

The visitors took the lead five minutes before the interval. Neil Peek met a deep Raith Plant corner at the back post and headed the ball back for Marsh to nod home from close range.

The lead survived less than two minutes of the second half, Jake Parrott waltzing round the Town defence and finishing left-footed from a tight angle.

Herrod almost put Taunton back in front but was denied by a good save by Tom King. And Shortwood clinched their first victory in the Evo-Stik League when they were allowed to take a quick free-kick on 67 minutes. Tim Haddock lofted the ball into Connor Sidley-Adams’s right-hand corner whilse the Taunton keeper was still lining up his wall.

Taunton: Connor Sidley-Adams, TJ Lang, Lee Smyth, Neil Peek, Owen Irish, Rob Norrish (Tom Hopkins 86), Raith Plant (Jamie Short 70), Simon Ingram, James Blake, Rodney Marsh, Craig Herrod. Unused subs: Corey Lewis.

Referee: Andy Newell (Yate).

Assistants: Savvas Yianni (Weston-super-Mare), Robert Cockle (Bristol).

Attendance: 74.