Bet Victor Southern League Premier Division South

Salisbury 2, Taunton Town 1

TAUNTON Town's nine-match league unbeaten run came to an end as a goal in each half handed Salisbury the spoils in Wiltshire.

A Lloyd Irish own goal and Nathaniel Oseni's header were enough to seal the points for Steve Claridge's side despite Andrew Neal's late consolation, leaving Town on the losing side in a league match for the first time since August.

The Peacocks started on the front foot and Dan Sullivan twice came close in the early exchanges, seeing one shot superbly saved by Gerard Benfield before another whistled just past the post.

Sullivan fired over on the half hour after Harry Kite's shot had been blocked before Salisbury began to apply pressure of their own, with Irish called into action to tip over an effort by Lewis Benson.

It took an uncharacteristic error by the Taunton goalkeeper to break the deadlock, Irish spilling a cross from the right hand side to put Salisbury in front four minutes before half-time.

The Peacocks continued to have plenty of the ball after the break without creating much in the way of clear-cut chances and it was the hosts who scored the vital second goal of the match midway through the second half as a corner found its way in via a combination of Oseni and Matt Wright.

Neal blasted a shot over the bar before halving the deficit on 83 minutes, poking the ball home to set up a grandstand finish.

Town kept knocking at the door but couldn't find the equaliser, with Irish keeping out a couple of Benson efforts at the other end as gaps opened up.

Rob Dray's side will now look to bounce back at Walton Casuals on Saturday.

Taunton Town: Lloyd Irish, Jamie Short (Nick Grimes 60), Lewis Hall, Harry Kite (Jack Rice 80), Shane White, Jamie Price, Ollie Chamberlain, Ryan Brett, Matt Wright, Dan Sullivan, Andrew Neal