Taunton Town’s Welsh tour began in Cardiff on Friday night, with a 24-man squad heading across the bridge for two fixtures on consecutive days, facing Cardiff Metropolitan University at the Cyncoed Sports Campus and then Penybont, who recently exited the UEFA Europa Conference League in the First Round.
Two second half goals from The Peacocks meant the tour started in winning fashion, thanks to Jayden Nielsen’s header at the back post and then Tom Purrington’s lovely team move, finished into the bottom right corner.
A fresh eleven was introduced for the second match, and both Kane Simpson and Austen Booth had chances to score inside the opening ten minutes, seeing strikes blocked.
Following a lengthy VAR check. Yes, a VAR check. The Peacocks found themselves a goal down on 12 minutes. James Walker missed out due to sickness, and the trialist in goal was left rooted to his spot as a strike from the edge of the area flew into the bottom right corner.
The Bont somewhat rattled The Peacocks’ strong start, and a flurry of box entries followed from the home side. But Booth and Nick Grimes were in defiant mood, clearing everything that came their way.
With half an hour played, The Peacocks began to find their rhythm in Bridgend. Fullback Ryan Lane sent in some ferocious crosses that had to be punched clear, and Taunton came close to equalising on separate occasions through Grimes and Niall Thompson. The first saw Grimes cut onto his left foot and curl an effort that was cleared, followed by Thompson, who lashed wide at the near post on the right hand side.
Trailing at the break, The Peacocks started the second period with the same strength as the first. Jack Rice came close when he sliced a Ben Seymour cross inside the penalty area.
Seymour was called into action just a few minutes later, and this time his cross was converted on 53 minutes. Simpson started a swift counter attack, and Seymour’s delivery was hammered in by Jayden Nielsen at the back post, adding another to his tally following Friday’s header.
With 20 minutes left on the clock, The Bont really should have gone ahead. A rare mix up at the back between the trialist and Booth allowed a blue shirt to strike on goal with no keeper in sight, but there was captain Grimes to heroically head the ball off the line.
Alfie Moulden came closest to finding a winner in the final quarter of an hour when he stretched out a leg inside The Bont area but could not quite reach the ball.
Honours ended even, and The Peacocks remain unbeaten in pre season with just one match left, next Saturday at home to Bedford Town.