Recap

Report

In what was always going to be a tough assignment, the Peacocks suffered their heaviest defeat of the season against one of the title favourites. The scoreline doesn’t do entire justice though to the visitors who put up a good show in the opening 45 minutes before a three goal burst straight after the break left them with no way back.

The Taunton side showed two changes from the one that had robbed Basingstoke of their unbeaten league record three days earlier, with Eddie Jones returning and Jake Hodgson also starting in place of Aysa Corrick and Jack Matthews. The opening exchanges were soon halted due to an injury to Totton’s Luke Bennett who fell on his shoulder when conceding the first corner of the game to Jay Malshanskyj, but this failed to disrupt the hosts who were inches away from taking the lead after nine minutes when a right wing cross was flicked on to Charlie Austin who prodded past Adam Parkes, only to be denied by Hodgson’s last ditch clearance off the line. Declan Rose’s pass then picked out Ethan Taylor and when Parkes parried his shot, Austin headed the follow-up over the bar.

The Peacocks knew they would have to better their weekend performance and they responded well as the game flowed from end to end in the light mist, Jayden Nielsen setting up Morgan Lewis for a low shot held comfortably by Josh Gould and then Tom Purrington playing a nice 1-2 with Lewis but opted to switch to his stronger right foot, allowing his effort to be blocked. It was the Stags though who got their noses in front on the quarter hour when Rose swung a cross in from the right and Tony Lee got on the end of it to stab past Parkes from six yards.

Unbeaten in seven league outings, Town arguably had the better of the remainder of the first half but despite ample composure in possession and clear intent an opportunity never really came their way. Two successive corners came to nothing, a Tom Smith strike was held low down by Gould and a jinking run from Alfie Moulden in which he evaded several opponents saw him find Malshanskyj who was forced wide to see his effort blocked. Overall though the Totton defence remained stubbornly effective to leave the Peacocks trailing by the single goal at the break but still very much in the picture.

How quickly things change. In fact Town were the first to show when play resumed, an Ollie Woodhouse long throw cleared as far as Nielsen whose fierce volley flew straight into Gould’s midriff. The next ten minutes or so saw the Peacocks’ night evolve into a nightmare as the home side hit them where it hurt. Five minutes in and it was 2-0 courtesy of a wonder goal from Taylor who met Tom Blair’s corner from the edge of the box with a fantastic volley that gave Parkes no chance. A further five minutes then passed before Totton added a third, Taunton failing to clear their lines from another home attack and when Lee’s volley took a deflection it fell to Taylor who doubled his personal tally by netting from close range.

The Peacocks were now on the ropes, and it almost seemed too easy when an unmarked Sam Magri powered in a header from Blair’s corner for a fourth Totton goal just before the hour, ending a destructive ten minute spell which saw a stunned Town have any hopes crushed. Opi Edwards became the first Peacocks substitute of the night when taking over from Jones before the visitors gave the travelling faithful a little cheer when they reduced the deficit after 73 minutes, Moulden moving in from the right to see his shot parried by Gould into the path of Woodhouse who slotted a half volley into the unguarded net for his first Taunton goal.

Hodgson then headed a Moulden free kick the wrong side of the post and Woodhouse saw his shot take a slight deflection wide, only for the referee to award a goal kick, as Town enjoyed some respite. However, the misery of the four goal margin was restored after 81 minutes when Hodgson missed his header and Ashley Clarke was away down the left, moving inside past a defender before firing home a fifth past Parkes who was also forced to kick away another attempt from Clarke at his post as three minutes of stoppage time began.

A difficult night then in Hampshire when the Peacocks felt the full force of what one of the best in the division had to offer but as always in football, we move on to the next one 🦚

Line-Ups

Taunton: Adam Parkes, Eddie Jones (Opi Edwards 67), Ollie Woodhouse, Toby Down, Tom Purrington (Aysa Corrick 79), Tom Smith (captain), Jake Hodgson, Alfie Moulden, Jayden Nielsen, Jay Malshanskyj (David Duru 79), Morgan Lewis (Jack Matthews 65). Unused sub: Archie Ferris

Totton: Josh Gould, Joe Oastler (captain), Sam Magri, Adam Tomasso, Ethan Taylor (Ashley Clarke 75), Charlie Austin, Roddy Collins (Charlie Kennedy 75), Luke Bennett (Declan Rose 7), Tony Lee (Scott Rendell 87), Tom Blair (Luke Hallett 75), Tega Alberhiere

Officials

Referee: Anthony Cross (Gosport)
Referee’s Assistant 1: Declan Skehan (Southampton)
Referee’s Assistant 2: Ryan Thomas (Southampton)

Attendance

1289

Reaction

” We’ve taken a big bruise tonight but bruises heal…………” watch the reaction of manager Richard Luffman on Peacocks TV HERE

Highlights

Match highlights TBC

Photos

Match photos from club photographer Debbie Gould can be viewed HERE

Taunton Town MOM

Jayden Nielsen receives the Taunton Town Man Of The Match from Taunton Town Board Consultant Martyn Starnes