FOOTBALL: Solid victory for Taunton Town (From This is The West Country)

FOOTBALL: Solid victory for Taunton Town

7:11pm Sunday 10th March 2013 in Somerset Sport

A RODNEY Marsh goal saw Taunton start their five day frenzy of football with a solid 1-0 victory over mid-table Wimborne Town in the Evo-Stik Southern league at Wordsworth Drive yesterday, writes Andy Power.

Wimborne had generally dictated the first half before the Peacocks found some form after the interval to grab the points.

Jamie Davidson glanced a header the wrong side of the woodwork from Jordan Cole’s cross for the first real chance of the game before Carl Cliff Brown latched on to a Marsh pass but steered the ball past Jason Harvell’s far post for Taunton’s best opening of the half.

However the Magpies were the more fluent side but could not breach the Taunton defence which included new loan signing Kyrtis MacKenzie from Torquay United; Grant Fisher blocked Steve Smith’s shot whilst Owen Irish hacked Jon Blake’s downward header clear before Shaun Brian could capitalise and Jamie Short’s outstretched leg denied Nathan Peprah-Annan’s header on the far post.

The rain and leaden skies which had necessitated the floodlights being switched on during the first half gave way to some drier conditions after the break which coincided with brighter fortunes for Town who spurned some decent opportunities to open their account.

After Rob Norrish had dragged his shot wide, Marsh and Simon Ingram combined on two occasions to fashion chances. Ingram had a clear sight of goal after Marsh had created the opening but the Taunton captain placed his effort past the left post. The roles were reversed when Ingram laid the ball off to Marsh whose left footed shot was repelled by Harvell.

The Peacocks continued to press and were rewarded on 63 minutes. Short made ground before setting Marsh free who netted the loose ball after Harvell had foiled his first shot at goal from the right side of the box.

Wimborne threatened eight minutes later when Fisher saved from Brian’s header following a free kick, George Webb’s follow-up drive was again blocked by the Taunton keeper with the ball being hooked off the line by Irish after it had rebounded back towards the net off Ben Mammola.

Blake headed just wide as the Dorset outfit fruitlessly searched for the equaliser whilst Cliff Brown lashed narrowly over the top at the opposite end after a probing run from sub Khaled Badavi.

One goal was enough though for Town to notch a valuable win and rise another place in the league table.

Taunton: Grant Fisher, Ben Mammola, Alex Jeannin, Owen Irish, Kyrtis MacKenzie, Shane Kingston (Rob Norrish 41), Jamie Short (Clay Bond 83), Simon Ingram (captain), Carl Cliff Brown, Rodney Marsh, Craig Herrod (Khaled Badavi 87).

Wimborne: Jason Harvell, Scott Arnold, Jordan Cole, Shaun Brian, Nathan Peprah-Annan, Jon Blake, Aidan Sainsbury, Matt Kemble, Steve Smith (Tom Jeffes 74), Jamie Davidson, George Webb. Unused subs: Paul Roast, Adam Costello, Billy Maybury, Dan Ackerman.

Referee: Paul Lister (Exeter).

Assistants: Kristian Gould (Weston-super-Mare), Stephen Fearnley (Bristol).

Match Sponsors: The Inner Garden, Pet and Plant Supplies. Foresters Garden Buildings.

Matchball Sponsor: M T & Associates Ltd. Attendance: 184