Taunton Town continued their strong start to the 2025-26 season on Wednesday evening with a 2-1 home victory over Yate Town in front of a lively Wordsworth Drive crowd.
The Peacocks made the ideal start, taking the lead inside three minutes. Owen Brain burst down the right and delivered a dangerous cross that Yate defender Jeffrey Forkuo could only turn into his own net. The early breakthrough gave Taunton the initiative, but the visitors responded well and looked to settle into the contest.
Yate drew level on 13 minutes when Marlon Jackson reacted quickly to a flicked header that carried beyond the Taunton backline, firing beyond Frankie Phillips to make it 1-1. Buoyed by the equaliser, Jackson threatened again soon after, but dragged a shot wide after Aaron Sainsbury had earlier denied Jayden Nielsen from close range.
Taunton regrouped and began to press forward, with captain Nick Grimes seeing a back-post header blocked on 25 minutes.
The decisive moment came just before half-time, and once again Brain was the creator. Cutting onto his left foot, he whipped a superb delivery into the area where Kane Simpson was on hand to steer home his finish and restore the lead.
There was almost a third in first-half stoppage time, Nielsen volleying narrowly over from an Alfie Moulden corner.
After the break, both sides worked hard to create openings in a competitive midfield battle. On the hour mark, Brain drove into the box after intercepting a loose pass, but his strike was blocked and gathered by visiting goalkeeper Sainsbury. Yate’s best opportunity to level came on 77 minutes, when Will Turner’s free-kick from 25 yards cleared the bar.
The visitors pushed in the closing stages, but Phillips was alert to claim a high ball into the area in stoppage time, ensuring the three points stayed in Somerset.
This win keeps the Peacocks’ momentum going as Richard Luffman’s side are thrown straight back into action on Saturday afternoon, hosting Basingstoke Town at 3pm.