Red Insure Cup 2nd Rd

Paulton Rovers 2 Taunton Town 0

TAUNTON duly went out of their third cup competition in a fortnight on Tuesday when they were beaten by the home side which had only picked up its first league win three days before, writes Kerry Miller.

A comical own goal and a dipping free-kick at either end of the game were enough to defeat the Peacocks.

Despite having only registered one win in the previous eight games, they took the field without half the regular first team and with a clutch a Under-18s and former Somerset cricketer James Regan, who had been having a few games for Chard Town in the Western League First Division.

Those who did play were run ragged in the first half hour, by which time Leon Jeanne had turned Owen Irish inside out and when the defender toe-poked a hopeful cross past his brother, Lloyd, for an own goal it seemed it was just a matter of how many.

Lloyd Irish then, somehow, kept out a point-blank header from Kyle Tooze on the half-hour which prompted manager Leigh Robinson to replace Owen Irish with Graham Mercieca, for a rare appearance.

Town’s night was soured further when Callum Mooney tripped Darren Mullings just outside the box and, as he disappeared down the tunnel, substitute Adrian Harris crashed the free-kick in off the bar.

Town: Lloyd Irish, Josh Searle, Lewis Waldy, Owen Irish, Charlie Hitchins, Callum Mooney, James Regan, Aidan Chainey, Jordan  Rogers, Matt Trump, Craig Veal. Subs: Jamie Short, Max Dyer, Nuno Felix, Graham Merceica, Michael Meaker.