Another high-scoring game for a second week in a row saw The Peacocks come away with all 3 points on Saturday afternoon in a game which could have easily gone either way, writes Rich Smith.
In a game which could best be described by the great football saying, “a game of two halves”, was that the best way to sum up the match on a very damp afternoon at Wordsworth Drive?
Taunton, who named an unchanged starting XI, started brightly, playing a fast-flowing attacking style of play. And it wasn’t long before Taunton had the lead. On six minutes, Jay Murray managed to break free from his defender, who pulled up in the process, and delivered a ball into the box where Alfie Moulden was lurking to poke home with a low, fierce shot past goalkeeper Simon Grant.
On sixteen minutes, it was two! After a long, searching ball for Seymour, who managed to get goal-side of his defender, he was pushed in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Spot-kick specialist Jack Rice stepped up and sent Grant the wrong way.
Just a minute later, the floodgates, on a very wet afternoon, seemed to be fully open as the team in claret and blue made it 3-0 with a delicious volley from Jay Murray, his first goal for the club.
And what an opening quarter of the game it was, as we saw the fourth goal of the game on twenty-three minutes, with the away side pulling a goal back. A lapse of concentration at the back allowed Tom Blake to be left free in the box and easily tap home.
Taunton thought they had a fourth first-half goal. On thirty-six minutes, Scott Robinson managed to lob Grant, only for Seymour to help the ball over the line, which saw the linesman raise his flag. One that was quite dubious, but the goal was ruled out.
That was the end of a very eventful first half as, on forty minutes, Basingstoke were down to ten men. Seymour was hacked down through on goal by Sol Sesay. A second yellow card for the ‘Stoke man, an easy decision for the referee.
Taunton looked comfortable and should have been out of sight at half time.
The second half began with the ten men trying desperately to get back into the game and reduce the deficit, with midfielder Tom Blake trying to add a second of the day, only for his effort to be gathered by Godden with ease.
On the hour mark, Taunton made it 4-1. Dylan Jones’ low strike at goal was parried away by Grant. The ball fell to Murray, who poked home to grab a brace for the afternoon in a man-of-the-match performance. Many of the Peacock faithful thought that 3 points were in the bag now. But they definitely had a very nervy end to the game.
On seventy-five minutes, Scott Robinson, trying to win the ball back, lost his boot and the ball, allowing the opposition to break away and score through Okine-Peters.
Just 2 minutes later, Taunton’s nerves were jangling as ‘Stoke made it 4-3. Taunton were unable to clear their lines, allowing Blake to score his second of the day.
Basingstoke most of all thought they were heading back to Hampshire with a dramatic point in the eighty-ninth minute after an effort from 30 yards out by Okine-Peters rattled the post.
Taunton were able to see out stoppage time and breathe a sigh of relief at the full-time whistle, coming away as the team who had scored the most as well as conceded the most. The unbeaten home record continued, and the bank holiday weekend started with 3 points. Just a day’s break until we were back in action again.