Two goals from loan signing Ben Seymour inflict a 2 0 defeat on Stoke City as the Peacocks’ momentum continues to gather pace
The fixtures are out, and Taunton Town will begin their 2025 26 campaign with a trip to Hampshire to face Havant & Waterlooville. Saturday’s 2 0 home win against Stoke City ensured the Peacocks remain unbeaten in pre season, with five wins and one draw to their name. Quietly and confidently, things are looking good in Manager Richard Luffman’s camp.
With all eyes on August 9th, Taunton started brightly against the Potters. Seymour’s first piece of quality came on 11 minutes when the forward created space inside the left hand side of the penalty area before crashing a strike off the bar, a real warning sign of what was to come for the academy prospects on their summer tour of the South West.
A few half chances fell to both sides around the quarter hour mark, but it was the Peacocks who drew first blood on 26 minutes. Seymour took a touch before slotting the ball past Caleb Clothier into the bottom left corner.
Just seven minutes later, skipper Nick Grimes looked to get in on the action. Jayden Nielsen’s corner was recycled into the box by Niall Thompson, and Grimes rose highest but couldn’t quite steer his header on target.
Taunton’s number 10, Owen Brain, glided into the box and unleashed a wicked strike that stung the palms of Clothier, who pushed it behind for a Peacocks corner which was then cleared.
The match was all but sealed on 53 minutes when Seymour guided home a header to double both his and the Peacocks tally. Good work down the left hand side between Lane and Nielsen allowed the latter to whip in a pacey cross, and Seymour was perfectly placed to bury his second of the afternoon.
Seven changes followed for the Peacocks, with Trialist, Jacob Towns, Jack Rice, Alfie Moulden, Chris Zebroski, Bailey Croome and Finn Rooke replacing Seymour, Thompson, Tom Purrington, Lane, Brain, Josh Owers and Nielsen.
Substitute forwards Croome and Rooke will have felt hard done by on 71 minutes, as two golden opportunities went begging. Croome beat the keeper, only for his effort to bounce off the base of the post, and Rooke shinned a close range effort wide with the goal at his mercy.
With a fifth win secured, Luffman looked ahead to the coming week:
“We’re really excited about the games ahead. Chippenham and the Wales weekender will provide us with stern tests.
“Now that Penybont have fallen out of Europe and can fulfil the fixture, we felt three games in five days would prove too much for our squad with two weeks until the season opener.
“We apologise to Exmouth and will make ourselves available to them next summer.”