Peacocks Start Pre-Season with a Confident Win at Portishead
Taunton Town kicked off their pre-season campaign with a composed and professional performance, securing a 2–0 victory over Portishead thanks to goals in each half from Jacob Hodgson and Ryan Cainey.
The first-half action sprang into life when the home side looked to draw first blood inside two minutes. A deep cross found former Peacock Jay Murray in space at the back post, but his header was comfortably gathered by Town’s number one, Josh Gould.
Taunton’s first meaningful attack came just three minutes later. Chris Zebroski intercepted a loose pass and found Purrington, who arrowed a ball into the feet of Jayden Nielsen. The wide midfielder’s low cross, however, was collected and quickly bowled out by former Weston-super-Mare goalkeeper Luke Purnell.
Portishead, playing their third pre-season match and showing early sharpness, delivered another dangerous cross on 16 minutes. But new defensive recruit Niall Thompson rose highest to clear the danger.
Ethan Feltham’s direct free-kick on the edge of the box struck the wall and deflected behind, leading to a flurry of corners — all of which Town dealt with resolutely.
Ben Symons, using his low centre of gravity to turn defenders with ease, created a great chance for Taunton. His driven cross almost found Nielsen, but the ball was poked behind for a corner. The Peacocks made it count from the set-piece. Nielsen’s initial effort, following a loose ball at his feet, was blocked, but Jacob Hodgson reacted quickest on 31 minutes to smash home from close range.
Owen Brain then created space with some clever footwork, and his powerful strike was well blocked before the half-time whistle blew, sending The Peacocks into the break with a narrow lead.
A completely different XI was named for the second half by The Peacocks. Defender Ollie Woodhouse had the first real opportunity, but his strike flew over the bar after he found himself unmarked at the back post.
James Walker replaced Josh Gould in goal and immediately impressed, bravely diving at the feet of Lucas Vowles to claim the ball before distributing quickly. It was an encouraging display from the young goalkeeper on his return from a knee injury that sidelined him last season.
Ryan Cainey was dragged to the floor following a neat one-two with Fin Rooke, and Alfie Moulden’s resulting delivery found Nick Grimes. The central defender rose well but could only direct his header over the bar.
With little goalmouth action to report in the early stages of the second half, the final quarter sparked back into life. On 78 minutes, Jay Murray’s quick feet created space on the right side of the box, and his low effort fizzed across goal — just evading a white shirt sliding in at the far post.
Moments later, tidy footwork from Fin Rooke allowed him to beat his man and win a corner, before Woodhouse again found himself in space — but his strike sailed high over the target.
The Peacocks sealed their opening pre-season victory with a well-worked counter-attack. Alfie Moulden started the move with a quick pass to the marauding Ryan Lane, whose whipped cross was met perfectly at the back post by Ryan Cainey to round off a professional performance.