Recap

Report

Town increased the attacking heat in the second half to progress to the next round of the FA Cup in two weeks’ time with a straightforward win over their Oxfordshire visitors.

The Peacocks showed three changes from their first win of the season at Frome five days earlier, with Jayden Neilsen cup tied and Jake Hodgson and Alfie Moulden dropping to the bench. In came Owen Brain, Harris Feltham and Charlie Dashfield for the hosts who made a sedate start against the Railwaymen. Didcot forced two early corners without causing any trouble while Taunton’s first threat came with Brain’s trickery down the left producing a low cross which reached Eddie Jones beyond the far post, but his effort was blocked.

Didcot might have done better on the quarter hour when Luke Preen had sight of the target inside the box but saw his shot blocked before the game was halted following an unfortunate injury to Peacocks’ defender Tiago Sa who was stretchered off with what later was confirmed as a broken fibula. Best wishes Tiago 🦚

Following that interruption Taunton raised it a gear, with David Duru making a couple of penetrative runs, one of which nicely set up Brain who sidestepped a defender but got the ball caught up in his feet. Town did find the net after 28 minutes through Tom Smith who nodded over the line after Jones had lobbed a flick on over visiting keeper Leigh Bedwell but a raised flag for offside said no.

Alas for Didcot, the Smith-Jones combination unlocked their door two minutes later, Brain finding Smith in space and his pass into the path of Jones driving in from the right ended with a low strike over the dive of Bedwell for the opener. The hard work was nearly undone moments later when a sloppy pass gave Jenson Wright a chance which he fired narrowly wide while Adam Learoyd’s hooked effort deflected over as Didcot attempted to restore parity. Town held firm though to hold the advantage at the break.

The procession towards the Didcot goal assumed greater volume when play resumed. Brain’s low pass found Ollie Woodhouse who ballooned over the top while Brain again menaced, his delivery from the right finding Smith whose header struck the post and when the Town skipper bundled the rebound over the line the offside flag won the day for a second time.

Undeterred the Peacocks went on to add their second after 55 minutes, Hodgson returning the ball back into the middle, Tom Purrington heading back across and Duru nodding home from inside the six yard box for his second goal in consecutive games. Good work by Purrington then set up Smith for a strike which was deflected for a corner while another set piece produced a bout of head tennis ending with Hodgson’s overhead shot hitting the crossbar.

Didcot stemmed the tide for a short time, Toby Down booting clear as Josh McConnell’s shot tried to sneak in before their best opportunity came when the home defence failed to cut out a through ball, allowing Josh Davis to run clear but with just Adam Parkes to beat he planted his finish wide of the target. Taunton responded by putting the tie to bed after 76 minutes. With five substitutes now on, three had a part to play, with Aysa Corrick’s poor corner being regained by Archie Ferris at the near post, the ball eventually reaching Hodgson 12 yards out and his strike gave Bedwell no chance as it soared into the roof of the net.

The chances continued to come into the final stages. Corrick’s neat pass released Ferris who slotted wide of the far post, Smith fed Evander Grubb whose shot hit the upright before Grubb raced away but saw his effort smothered by Bedwell who then foiled Corrick following a 1-2 with Ferris. Purrington and Alfie Moulden also fired shots wide as the Peacocks eased through.

Line-Ups

Taunton: Adam Parkes, Eddie Jones, Tiago Sa (Jake Hodgson 19), Ollie Woodhouse, Toby Down (Alfie Moulden 72), Tom Purrington, Tom Smith (captain), Owen Brain (Evander Grubb 72), David Duru (Archie Ferris 62), Harris Feltham (Aysa Corrick 72), Charlie Dashfield. Unused sub: Sam Naylor

Didcot: Leigh Bedwell, Conor McGrath, Cameron O’Neill, Sam Barder (Owen Smith 63), Luke Carnell, Adam Learoyd (captain), Jenson Wright, James Glover, Luke Preen, Dylan Conlan (Josh Davis 63), Patrick Osborne (Josh McConnell 63). Unused subs: Freddie Copping, Taylor Bedwell, Charlie Herbert

Officials

Referee: Neil Lane (Plymouth)
Referee’s Assistant 1: Billy Wilde (Weston-super-Mare)
Referee’s Assistant 2: Andrew Heapy (Exmouth)

Attendance

588

Reaction

“Really good performance and really chuffed to get through to the next round………” watch the reaction of manager Richard Luffman on Peacocks TV HERE

Highlights

Match highlights can be seen on Peacocks TV HERE

Photos

Match photos from club photographer Debbie Gould can be viewed HERE

Taunton Town MOM

Tom Smith receives the Taunton Town Man Of The Match award from Matchball Sponsor Joyce Kirk

Matchball Sponsor

We extend our grateful thanks to Matchball Sponsor Allan and Joyce Kirk, and Claire Prentice