Taunton Town were forced to settle for a point at the Cygnet Health Care Stadium on Wednesday evening after an entertaining 1–1 draw with Weymouth. A late strike from substitute Kane Simpson cancelled out Tom Bearwish’s opener, but the Peacocks were left wondering how they had not taken all three points after carving out several golden chances.
The visitors started brightly and created two early opportunities, first heading over from a corner before Frankie Phillips was called into action to push away a fierce effort after eight minutes. Taunton responded as Ben Seymour’s lively movement began to cause problems, forcing a string of corners which Weymouth keeper Ben Clark did superbly to deal with. Seymour then went close himself on 28 minutes, swivelling sharply inside the box before dragging his shot narrowly wide.
The Peacocks came within inches of the opener shortly after when Alfie Moulden was denied before Josh Owers’ cross was spilled onto the post and scrambled clear. Moments later, Owen Brain cut inside and unleashed a rasping strike which Clark tipped over in spectacular fashion to keep the scores level.
The breakthrough came ten minutes after the restart, and it went the way of the visitors. Weymouth skipper Bearwish poked home from close range to put the Terras in front. Taunton pushed back almost immediately, with Brain and Rice both trying their luck from distance, but again Clark proved difficult to beat.
The pressure eventually told with ten minutes left. Simpson, introduced from the bench, showed great strength to shrug off his marker before calmly slotting past Clark to make it 1–1, much to the delight of the Peacock Army.
The drama continued as Weymouth rallied late on and Phillips was forced into a brave punch amid a crowded penalty area. But it was Taunton who should have snatched it at the death. Seymour rounded the keeper and cut the ball across goal, only for Tom Purrington to head over with the goal gaping.
Attention now turns to Saturday’s mouth-watering Emirates FA Cup tie at home to Weston-super-Mare.
The club would like to extend its thanks to Ryan Peasland of Somerset Inn, who was the official match ball sponsor for the evening’s fixture and whose support is greatly appreciated by all at Taunton Town.
This evening’s Man of the Match was awarded to Taunton’s Owen Brain, whose nonstop energy and flair earned him a deserved award.
📸 Match photos courtesy of Debbie Gould can be viewed here: Flickr Album