Recap

Report

The Peacocks ground out their third pre-season win with a single goal success at Thornhill Park. On the last occasion the sides had met Town had thumped in nine without reply but there was never any danger of that goal glut being reached in this game with Town again not making the most of their possession and the hosts having several good opportunities to equalise.

The visitors enjoyed all the early ball, Nick Grimes glancing an early corner wide while Jared Lewington’s effort was blocked by Swans keeper Lewis Adams. Toby Holmes then won a tussle for the ball with Adams but snatched his finish with the target beckoning. Town dominance paid off after 20 minutes when Lewington got free on the right and laid the ball back to Zac Smith who sidefooted home from just outside the box to give his side the lead.

Dan Sullivan volleyed just over before Slimbridge had their first sniff, a cross reaching Jamie Martin whose shot was well blocked and Ben Deakin slicing the recycled ball across the goal and wide. Will Hawes then spurned another opening as the home side found their way into the game. It was Town though who were closest to adding to the scoreboard as the half closed. Sullivan drilled narrowly past the far post and Lewington’s header was chested over his own bar by Adams before Sullivan released Lewington who was unlucky to see his strike rattle the crossbar.

The Peacocks made a triple substitution at the break, however it was the Swans who made the better start and it needed an instinctive block by Marco Radovanovic to keep out Hawes’ attempt from Jordan Yeo’s cross. Lee Lucas provided Town’s first effort of the second half past the hour mark, his shot being parried by Adams. Sloppy defending then nearly cost Town dear when Jordan Annear was found in space on the left but fortunately he slanted his effort wide of the far post.

Hawes fired another shot over before Town hit the woodwork twice more. Sullivan latched onto a knockdown from a goal kick to fire a half volley against the post, then Gethyn Hill, moments after he had blasted an opportunity over the top, received Jack Goodall’s pass to make space and pick out virtually the same location on the upright as Sullivan. In the end another 90 minutes in the legs as the Peacocks now face some tougher tasks leading up to the start of the season for real.

Line-Ups

Taunton: Marco Radovanovic, Ollie Chamberlain, Ross Staley (Luis Edmondson 45), Nick Grimes (captain), Jake Wannell, Joe Guest (Ben Adelsbury 45), Lee Lucas (Jack Goodall 72), Zac Smith (Dan McBeam 62), Dan Sullivan, Jared Lewington (Toby Holmes 69), Toby Holmes (Gethyn Hill 45)

Slimbridge: Lewis Adams, Ben Deakin (Isaac Thurston 82), Ben Prictor (Will Davidson 56), Ben McLean, Toby Lawrence, Nathan Dennis (Ben Hands 61), Jamie Martin (Jordan Yeo 56) (Mike Ford 82), Jack Holmes (Marley Thomas 69), Will Hawes (captain), Mike Ford (Myron Turner 45), Marley Thomas (Jordan Annear 69)

Officials

Referee: Andrew Sheppard (Dursley)
Referee’s Assistant 1: Darren McMillan (Stonehouse)
Referee’s Assistant 2: Kyle McMillan (Stonehouse)

Attendance

120

Reaction

“We’ve got to finish teams off, we’ve had enough chances” – see Rob Dray’s match reaction on Peacocks TV HERE

Highlights

Match highlights on Peacocks TV HERE

Photos

Match photos on Taunton Town FC Flickr HERE