Recap

Report

Thank goodness that’s all over with. The curtain came down on what has been a torrid 2023-24 season for the Peacocks both on and off the pitch with a boredraw against their Hertfordshire visitors. A week ago this fixture had the potential to be a season-defining potboiler with both sides in the relegation mix but after the defeat to Weston two days previous had confirmed Taunton’s return to the Southern Premier, the 90 minutes had any edge taken off of it and as a result an extremely dull contest followed with very little to write about. Makes my life easier….

The Town side showed three changes from the Weston game, with Dan Lavercombe returning in goal while Marcus Day and Zac Smith started in place of loanees Zac Bell and Ben Acey (suspended anyway) who had returned to Bristol City. A beautiful afternoon weatherwise was not equalled on the pitch where the hosts saw their first chink of light inside ten minutes when Rabby Tabu Minzamba regained the ball on the right to find Ross Stearn in the middle, but the bobbling ball saw his effort blocked by a defender for a corner. Moments later the Tudors threatened at the other end when Kaylen Hinds sprung the defence to get free on the right side of the box, but Lavercombe stood his ground to save.

Hinds muscled through but overhit his intended pass for Joe Iaciofano who then headed well over from Chris Smith’s cross as the visitors’ attempts to break through fell short. The Peacocks were no better, ending the half with Lloyd James firing high following some good work from Evander Grubb. Striker Seb Bolton replaced Smith for the second half which began with promise for Hemel with Hinds’ run down the left cut out by the Town backline before Day’s cross reached Stearn at the far post who blasted wide.

The lack of any potency continued, Iaciofano finding space for a tepid strike which Lavercombe gathered easily, with the crowd briefly awakening at the Town end when a clearance into the car park came close to landing on a departing vehicle. Excitement had to be gained somewhere. Jaden Brown replaced Stearn just past the hour for only his second appearance for the Peacocks since joining in March and he soon had an opening with a free kick but fired against the wall while goal attempts remained wayward, Minzamba drilling well over the bar from Grubb’s set up.

If any side was going to break the deadlock the Tudors looked more likely, with Lavercombe denying them with a fine block to foil Junior Gyamfi after he had been played in by Iaciofano. Gyamfi then dispossessed Cameron Evans to find Iaciofano at the far post, but a defender blocked the shot before BTC student Wess Jenkins emerged off the bench for the final throes of the game for his Taunton debut, replacing Day.

Lavercombe preserved the point when he dived to turn away a Josh Williams’ strike from the left after Hemel had worked the ball across the box while Gyamfi’s lobbed effort dropped wide of the far post as the dying embers of 2023-24 flickered before being laid to rest after four minutes of added time. Here’s hoping for better times ahead #UpThePeacocks 🦚

Line-Ups

Taunton: Dan Lavercombe, Dan Ball, Ollie Chamberlain, Lloyd James (captain), Rabby Tabu Minzamba, Ross Stearn (Jaden Brown 62), Zac Smith (Seb Bolton 45), Cameron Evans, Marcus Day  (Wess Jenkins 82), Callum Dolman. Unused sub: Eddie Townsend

Hemel Hempstead: Craig King, Montel McKenzie, Josh Williams, Kyle O’Connor-Ajayi (Joe Re 57), Josh Hill (captain), Joe Iaciofano, Kaylen Hinds (Alfie Matthews 65), Tarrelle Whittaker, Chris Smith, Anton Dworzak, Myles Judd (Junior Gyamfi 65). Unused subs: Kombe Kawimbe, Jonathan Macaulay

Officials

Referee: Robert Ablitt (Fareham)
Referee’s Assistant 1: Robert Harrison (Eastleigh)
Referee’s Assistant 2: Colin Hubbard (Wimborne)

Attendance

799

Reaction

“They gave everything in the last game when there was nothing on it and I can’t ask for more than that…….” watch Rob Dray’s match reaction on Peacocks TV HERE

Highlights

Match highlights on Peacocks TV to follow

Photos

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

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance MOM

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