FOOTBALL: Taunton Town exit from FA Cup (From This is The West Country)

FOOTBALL: Taunton Town exit from FA Cup

5:40pm Wednesday 12th September 2012 in Sport

Taunton crashed out of the FA Cup on last night, turning in a truly lamentable performance to lost 3-1 in their home replay against Toolstation League outfit Gillingham Town, writes James Wright.

With £3,000 in prize money and a home tie against league rivals Sholing up for grabs, the Peacocks paid for failing to score during the opening exchanges which they largely dominated.

They now have to wait until the home league game against Swindon Supermarine at Wordsworth Drive on Saturday week to get this first qualifying round defeat out of their system.

Leigh Robinson's charges had early chances through Ben Mammola and Craig Herrod and completely bossed the opening half hour.

However they fell behind to Gillingham's first attack of note. With the tie just passing its two hour mark, Danny Thompson finally got its first goal. The industrious midfielder somehow squeezed the ball home from a tight angle after Connor Sidley-Adams had brilliantly palmed out a Nick Compton header.

With their tails up, the visitors threatened a second, and Sidley-Adams did well to race off his line to deny Matt Chant. At the other end, Herrod blazed the ball wildly over the bar after he latched on to a long clearance and got behind the opposition's back line.

The Dorset side doubled their advantage just before the hour mark. Lee Gale got clear down the right and squared the ball for Matt Chant to finish at the far post.

In the previous round against Paulton, Taunton had retrieved a two goal deficit. But they never looked likely to repeat the feat, and it was no surprise that Chant sealed the match with a close range header twelve minutes from time.

An excellent solo goal by Rodney Marsh in the closing stages provided scant consolation to the home fans.

Taunton: Connor Sidley-Adams, T J Lang (Tom Hopkins 45), Dave Hambly (Lee Smyth 71), Ben Mammola, Owen Irish, Rob Norrish, Jamie Short (Neil Peek 57), Simon Ingram (captain), James Blake, Rodney Marsh, Craig Herrod. Unused subs: Andy Butler, Corey Lewis, Raith Plant, Ryan Lewis. Matchball Sponsor: M A Collard, Family Butcher. Attendance: 222