Recap

Report

A valuable point on the road stopped the rot for the Peacocks after a run of six successive defeats. The home side, aiming for victory to cement their place in the play-offs, were boosted by a goal inside the opening quarter hour as they bossed the majority of the first half before Town began to find their feet, Callum Dolman levelling with his first goal for the club seconds before the interval whistle, and then taking the game to their hosts after the break.

The visitors showed two changes from the one which had pushed another promotion chasing side in Maidstone close three days earlier, goalkeeper Dan Lavercombe returning after a spell out injured while Nat Jarvis replaced Seb Bolton up front. At least the rain was absent for a change, but the sides had to contend with another meteorological nuisance in the shape of a strong wind rattling down the Beveree Stadium pitch, but this didn’t deter the Beavers from making a busy start.

There was an early glimpse for Town when a Lloyd James’ cross deflected off a defender to keeper Adam Desbois as Ross Stearn eyed up an opportunity, however Hampton were showing they meant business as they pursued their first league win in five attempts. A Jordan Thomas cross fell loose for a shot which was blocked, and Mason Bloomfield planted a header over the top before the deadlock was broken after 12 minutes, a diagonal ball in from the left by Isaac Pitblado being deftly flicked beyond Lavercombe at his near post by the head of former Exeter City striker Ben Seymour.

The Peacocks counted their blessings three minutes later when a flicked header gave Ruaridh Donaldson a gilt-edged chance to double the lead but with the whole target in front of him he blazed his shot over the bar. Seymour’s low cross was then cleared to Dom Revan whose strike was fumbled wide for a corner by Lavercombe as Hampton continued to keep Town pegged back, with another opening coming and going when Revan’s cross fell for Bloomfield who saw his effort blocked by Lavercombe and then from the rebound he hooked his shot wide. It is fair to say at this point the Town goal was living something of a charmed life.

Donaldson’s cross dropped to no-one at the far post while Lavercombe clutched Gray’s high centre as the Beavers maintained the pressure without crucially being able to find the net again and this cost them as Town at last began to ask some questions during the final stages of the half. Ollie Chamberlain’s touch found Jarvis who evaded two defenders for a sight of goal but dragged his shot out for a throw before a first corner was won, James delivering for Dan Ball to head wide.

George Hunt’s challenge on Rabby Tabu Minzamba then put Ben Acey centre stage but his free kick from just outside the box struck the wall before the Peacocks snatched an equaliser two minutes into added time. A curling cross from James to the far post was retrieved by Minzamba and when the ball dropped for Dolman ten yards out he personified composure as he slotted a side-footed finish into the far corner much to the delight of the travelling support.

The second half consequently developed into far more of a level playing field for the Peacocks, whose renewed belief forced the hosts into defending for lengthy spells. An early James cross found Cameron Evans whose header at goal was punched clear by Desbois, the referee cutting the threat short after deeming a foul had occurred. Gray’s corner at the opposite end was then cleared to Hunt who sent a half volley high over the top before James and Evans combined again, a free kick being won by Evans’ header, but Chamberlain just failed to connect with the knockdown at the post.

Marcus Day replaced Acey ten minutes in and his presence proved the extra spur that Town needed as they tried to eke out an opening, however the Beavers remained a real threat on the break, Minzamba heading out Revan’s cross for a corner following one such foray. Town were also getting plenty of ball into the box, the Hampton defence similarly dealing with it although not convincingly at times, Day diddling Thomas on the right and seeing his cross sliced by Pitblado to his keeper Desbois.

Both teams had opportunities during the final stages to grab the winner although the clearer openings went Hampton’s way. A case in point came with 15 minutes left, a cross from the left reaching Donaldson alone at the far post but after controlling the ball he promptly blasted over the bar. Another offshoot from a cross fell for Sam Deadfield to fire over before a Town break saw Day’s strike deflect off a defender for a corner from which the hosts broke the length of the pitch, Seymour delivering into the box resulting in an effort being blocked by Bell.

A goal of the season contender for Town was then thwarted when Day embarked on a brilliant run, jinking past a number of Beavers to reach the edge of the box but then seeing his strike either hit a defender or Jarvis (answers on a postcard). Stearn beat his man on the right but saw his attempted cross to Jarvis cut out for another corner before a late surge from the hosts during four minutes of added time was repelled by the Peacocks who were cut open for Seymour to see his shot blocked by Lavercombe. The visitors were in no mood to see their point snatched away though, with a last gasp shot from Chamberlain going wide to conclude the afternoon’s entertainment. A fine result was tempered by the fact rivals elsewhere had secured victories, however the Peacocks’ destiny is still in their own hands. Onwards to Braintree!

Line-Ups

Taunton: Dan Lavercombe, Zac Bell, Dan Ball, Ollie Chamberlain, Lloyd James (captain), Nat Jarvis, Ben Acey (Marcus Day 56), Rabby Tabu Minzamba, Ross Stearn (Seb Bolton 90+4), Cameron Evans, Callum Dolman. Unused subs: Jaden Brown, Evander Grubb

Hampton & Richmond: Adam Desbois, Jordan Thomas, Ruaridh Donaldson (Josh Anifowose 81), Dean Inman, Ben Seymour, Jake Gray (captain), Sam Deadfield, George Hunt (Shane Dunne 68), Isaac Pitblado, Mason Bloomfield, Dom Revan (Alfy Whittingham 76). Unused subs: Rob Hall, Alex Gibson-Hammond

 Officials

Referee: Matthew Jackson (Market Harborough)
Referee’s Assistant 1: John Perry (Tring)
Referee’s Assistant 2: Christopher Poole (Welwyn Garden City)

Attendance

752

Reaction

“Second half we were the better side, it just needed something to drop…….” watch Rob Dray’s match reaction on Peacocks TV HERE

Highlights

To follow

Photos

Match photos from club photographers Darren Harris can be viewed HERE and Debbie Gould HERE

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance MOM

Dan Lavercombe receives the Taunton Town Man Of The Match award from Peacocks Radio’s Rich Willcox-Smith