Taunton Town’s Emirates FA Cup journey came to an end at The Optima Stadium as National League South side Weston super Mare secured a convincing 3–0 victory in their replay, though the scoreline perhaps did not reflect how competitive the tie remained for long periods, writes Jenna Kirby.
The Peacocks found themselves trailing by a goal at half time despite more than holding their own against their higher league opponents in what was a fairly balanced opening 45 minutes.
Taunton made a positive start, knocking the ball about well with Ben Seymour and Kane Simpson causing problems up front. Defensively, skipper Nick Grimes and Austen Booth were solid, dealing with a string of early crosses, while keeper Frankie Phillips pulled off a couple of decent saves – one to keep out Louis Britton at his near post and another to deny Sam Pearson’s effort from range.
Weston were not without their moments either. Dawes and Pearson both had a go at troubling the visiting defence. Grimes threw himself in the way of one Britton effort inside the area, and Nat Williams came to the rescue with an important clearance after some tidy Weston build up play. Down the other end, Jack Rice tried his luck from long range, while Simpson nearly got on the end of an Alfie Moulden free kick at the back stick.
Taunton had to make an early substitution when Seymour picked up a knock and was replaced by Owen Brain, but they kept plugging away, winning a few corners and feeling they should have had a penalty after a promising raid down the right flank.
The sucker punch came right before the interval though, with Britton reacting quickest to a loose ball and lashing it high into the net past Phillips to put the Seagulls 1–0 up at the break.
The second half began with the Peacocks showing plenty of the promise from the first period. Moulden’s cross found Simpson, whose low strike at the near post flashed tantalisingly across the face of Max Harris’ goal. The visitors continued to press, with Simpson racing through one on one only to see his effort drift just wide of Harris’ near post.
Taunton really ramped up the pressure at The Optima, and substitute Brain found Simpson who once again flashed a dangerous ball across the box. Rice very nearly turned the ball in at the back post as the Peacocks pushed desperately for an equaliser.
However, Weston had chances of their own to extend their lead. A big opportunity arose when Michael Smith’s cross was flicked back across goal, but the hosts somehow headed over from close range.
The killer blow came around the 70 minute mark when Britton struck again, burying his second of the evening to double Weston’s advantage and effectively end Taunton’s hopes of a comeback.
Phillips continued to keep his side in the game with some excellent saves, producing a fantastic stop to deny a wonder strike from Pearson. But with managers Liam and Steve rolling the dice with three second half substitutions and less than 10 minutes remaining, the Peacocks were desperately pushing forward to make something happen.
Brain delivered a cross that was comfortably held by Harris, but Taunton’s efforts were finally put to bed when Luke Coulson fired a brilliant free kick past Phillips to wrap up the tie at 3–0.
It is a bitter pill to swallow for Taunton and their travelling supporters. The Peacocks showed they could mix it with higher league opposition for long stretches but could not find that crucial final ball when it mattered. Cup exits always sting, especially when you sense there might have been more in the tank.
Now it is back to bread and butter league football, where this group will be eager to bounce back and prove this was just a bump in the road rather than anything more serious.
Last night’s Man of the Match award was handed to captain Nick Grimes by the Taunton Town Directors.
📸 Match photos courtesy of Debbie Gould can be viewed here: Flickr Album.