Toolstation Western League
Premier Division
Bridgwater Town 1, Hallen 0

BRIDGWATER Town kept hold of second spot thanks to Jack Taylor's extraordinary winner against Hallen on Saturday, his 50th goal for the Robins.

It was a hard-fought win for the hosts against bottom-half opposition at Fairfax Park, with neither side creating many chances of note.

While Bridgwater dominated possession, their final ball was lacking and both goalkeepers enjoyed a largely stress-free afternoon.

Hallen were limited in an attacking sense but defended resolutely, Taylor denied a tap-in by a sharp tackle after Jake Brown looked to have engineered a tap-in for the striker.

The hour mark was reached with little to write home about, but then Harry Horton flummoxed his marker and sent in a fierce shot which Hallen goalkeeper Liam MacFarlane parried away.

The breakthrough came with 19 minutes to go, and as so often has been the case since his arrival at Bridgwater 15 months ago, Taylor made the difference.

He picked up a long ball forward, and despite being driven wide by MacFarlane, his angled shot from 20 yards – and a yard inside the bye-line – somehow went in at the far post.

Taylor now has 50 goals in just 53 games for the Robins, a remarkable record of consistent scoring.

Mark Armstrong shot narrowly wide from 25 yards, before the visitors had their only shot on target, Jake Viney keeping out Jordan Williams' effort with five minutes remaining.

Bridgwater Town: Jake Viney, Dave Thorne, Kurt Robinson (c), George Painter, Tom Ellis, Josh Gracie (Mark Armstrong 54), Harry Horton, Jake Brown (Sam Towler 78), Patrick O'Halloran (Charlie White 83), Jack Taylor, Jake Llewellyn.
Subs not used: Lee Begg, Steve Laker.
Man of the match: George Painter
Attendance: 253

The Robins are now without a game until February 2, when they host the division's bottom club Shortwood United (ko 3pm).