Recap
Report
Five games in and the Peacocks can breathe a bit easier after securing their first three point haul of their Southern League campaign. A lacklustre first half was enlivened just before the break when Taunton struck the first blow through David Duru before the visitors went on to control affairs after the break, adding a second through Owen Brain for good measure.
Recent recruit Jayden Nielsen along with striker Duru were brought into the starting eleven, with Brain and Archie Ferris dropping to the bench, the only two changes from the game with Sholing 48 hours earlier. A sunny Bank Holiday afternoon had encouraged a sizeable travelling support to travel across the county, but they had little to get excited about from a scrappy opening quarter. Peacocks’ keeper Adam Parkes safely fielded a strike from Matt Smith after home penalty appeals for a foul on Warren Maidment had fallen on deaf ears before Taunton posted their first attempt, the ball looping up for Eddie Jones to volley over from 15 yards.
Former Peacock Marcus Day was proving to be the Robins’ most industrious outlet, and he reminded his ex-employers of his talents with a run in from the left to shoot wide of the far post. Frome’s Smith saw another attempt blocked as the contest failed to improve as a spectacle until the 35th minute when Day’s free kick from the left was fumbled at his near post by Parkes but with the target yawning, James Ollis stretched to fire off the crossbar.
The same combination nearly paid dividends soon after when Day’s cross took a deflection to find Ollis who could only direct his header beyond the far stick. The Peacocks made Frome pay for these misses by breaking the stalemate two minutes before the break. Little had materialised for Town in the final third until Duru outbattled Matt Wood on the left side before advancing into the box to rifle a fine finish past Kyle Phillips into the far corner for his first Taunton goal.
This timely strike put Town in the driving seat. When the sides re-emerged Duru won an early corner which was played short, the cross finding Jake Hodgson who got the better of his man but could only manage a prod at goal which Phillips easily claimed.
Day fired a free kick off the wall before the visitors made a triple switch, with Ferris, Brain and Evander Grubb all entering the fray. Frome briefly threatened when Sam Heal flashed a dangerous delivery across goal which Jones hooked out for a corner, but it wasn’t long before two of the fresh Peacock faces helped settle it. Grubb collected the ball on the left side of the box and fed Brain to drive home past Phillips to spark some rather muted celebrations. 😉
Taunton were content to soak up the huff and puff of the Robins for the time remaining, Matt Smith blasting a shot over the clubhouse roof. Unfortunately for him his dragon wasn’t around to add extra firepower.. Further corners for Frome during six added minutes proved fruitless and Town might even have added another in the last piece of action, Ollie Woodhouse’s pass down the line staying in for Brain to move inside and place a shot towards the far corner but Phillips smothered the effort. Not a classic but three points and a clean sheet to hopefully kick start a successful run.
Line-Ups
Taunton: Adam Parkes, Eddie Jones, Tiago Sa, Ollie Woodhouse, Toby Down, Tom Purrington (Harris Feltham 90+2), Tom Smith (captain) (Evander Grubb 67), Jake Hodgson, Alfie Moulden (Charlie Dashfield 82), David Duru (Archie Ferris 67), Jayden Nielsen (Owen Brain 67).
Frome: Kyle Phillips, Matt Wood (Will Taylor 80), Sam Teale (captain), Joe Budd (Sam Heal 45), Zak Drew (Josiah McKayle 68), Albie Hopkins (Kouassi Yao 68), Marcus Day, Warren Maidment, Alex Monks, James Ollis, Matt Smith. Unused sub: Pierce Mitchell
Officials
Referee: Robert Harrison (Eastleigh)
Referee’s Assistant 1: Benjamin Duffill (Bulford)
Referee’s Assistant 2: Kulwant Mann (Bath)
Attendance
738
Reaction
” We were the better team, deserved the win, onwards and upwards now…..” watch the reaction of manager Richard Luffman on Peacocks TV HERE
Highlights
Match highlights can be seen courtesy of Frome Town FC HERE
Photos
Match photos from club photographer Debbie Gould can be viewed HERE
Taunton Town MOM
David Duru was named Taunton Town Man Of The Match by the Taunton Town Away Travel Group, presentation photo to follow