Taunton Town started their second season under Richard Luffman in emphatic style as they picked up all three points on the road to Havant and Waterlooville, writes William Ledbury.
Manager Luffers spoke in the week about not yet winning in Hampshire during his reign, and had a points total in mind that he hoped to take from Saturday’s match on the South Coast and the two consecutive home matches against Yate Town and Basingstoke. His side could not have had a tougher start when both Austen Booth and Ryan Lane were not fit to begin the match, forcing Ollie Woodhouse and Brodie Montague to move into the Peacocks defence.
That was all forgotten on ten minutes when the opening goal of the 2025-26 season, and of course the match in Havant, went the way of the travelling Peacocks. Ben Seymour was hacked down on the centre circle and the resulting ball into the area was headed goalwards by captain Nick Grimes, with a slight touch from a white shirt helping it into the back of the net.
Owen Brain whipped a ferocious strike narrowly wide on 31 minutes. Full back Niall Thompson’s cross was deflected into the path of Seymour, who laid the ball off to Brain, and he almost curled it into the far corner.
Havant were rocked, and two more strong chances came for Taunton late in the half, with strike partners Ben Seymour and Kane Simpson coming closest. First, Seymour brought the ball down with absolute ease despite carrying a knock, but his effort was heroically blocked by the Hawks to deny a certain goal. Then Simpson received a deep cross from Brain at the back post, took a touch, and fired over.
The second half began in similar fashion and the Peacocks were rewarded on 54 minutes following some smart footwork by Tom Purrington. Kane Simpson held off Milner-Smith and his pass was met by Purrington, who span his man with ease and was brought to the floor, leaving the referee no option but to point to the spot. Seymour stepped up and made no mistake from 12 yards, despite going the same way as Dudzinski.
A rare mistake on 62 minutes from Jacob Hodgson led to a route back into the match for Havant, as Alfy Whittingham stole possession and fired past Frankie Phillips in the Peacocks goal.
With 15 minutes left to play, Simpson could not believe his luck as he struck the underside of the Hawks crossbar and then mishit the rebound.
But in the 90th minute, Simpson made up for those missed chances when he saved the best until last at a sun kissed Westleigh Park Stadium. Substitute Jayden Nielsen delivered the ball of the century to Simpson, who raced through and expertly dinked the ball past Dudzinski to all but seal the three points.
The Hawks scored in the 97th minute, but that was not enough as the Peacocks registered a famous win in Hampshire, their first victory against Havant and Waterlooville, setting up two consecutive home matches against Yate Town on Wednesday 13 August and Basingstoke on Saturday 16th August.