Recap
Report
Two goals in each half steered the Peacocks to a resounding victory, their best ever in the National League South in their 64th game. The scoreline would indicate home dominance and there is no doubt Town displayed some fine attacking football despite the strong wind but saying that had Farnborough been more clinical in front of goal a closer outcome would have been on the cards.
There were two changes to the team which had begun the foggy abandonment at Eastbourne a week earlier, Jay Foulston and Lee Lucas being replaced by Dan Ball, making a welcome first League start this season, and Lloyd James, and both were instrumental in helping their side to a first NLS victory since the end of September. Following a difficult week on and off the pitch, Town began like a side determined to take their frustrations out on whoever got in their way which produced their quickest League goal of the campaign after just five minutes. Zac Smith got past Reggie Young on the left to see his cross tipped over by Borough keeper Jack Turner, with the ensuing corner from James never properly dealt with. A partial clearance found Dylan Morgan who had a shot blocked and after some more pinball around the box, Ollie Chamberlain took matters into his own hands and rifled a superb finish past Turner into the back of the net from just outside the box.
Buoyed by this early breakthrough and with the gusty elements behind them, the Peacocks kept their foot on the pedal as they sliced through the Yellows’ defence at will in the early stages. Morgan switched feet to see his strike parried by Turner, with the rebound falling into the path of Smith who was unfortunate to see his effort rebound off the post. The danger still wasn’t cleared with the ball finding its way back into Ross Stearn whose turn and shot at goal was desperately blocked by a defender before it could cross the line.
This was more like it! Smith and Morgan were linking up very nicely indeed down the left and the former found the latter inside with another strike being deflected for a corner. Farnborough finally provided some respite with their first attempt after 17 minutes, Selim Saied finding space to fire a strong shot against the post, with handball appeals after the rebound hit a home defender waved away by referee Hatzidakis. A long throw then bounced across the box to find Aaron Kuhl whose header landed on the roof of the net as the visitors began to find their feet on the heavy surface.
Two promising runs from Joe Guest and Nick Grimes saw the final ball fail to match while a Stearn free kick hit a Yellows defender in the Christmas box, but the game had lost some of its flow which was not helped by a further interruption after Grimes required treatment. The contest reignited with six minutes left before the interval courtesy of an inspired James. A Town attack appeared to have broken down when Smith’s attempted pass to McCootie fell short and as the ball ran loose to James 20 yards out he dug out a lovely chip over the stranded Turner to double the Peacocks’ advantage.
Town keeper Dan Lavercombe had to be alert to stop the visitors from reducing the arrears as half time approached, Young cutting in from the right and seeing his well-hit shot brilliantly tipped over by the arcing Peacocks’ No 1. So far, so good at the break with thoughts of those recent games where goals had become rarer than a baby dodo now blown away by the squalls travelling the length of the Somerset Campervan Co Stadium. That wind was in Farnborough’s favour for the second half, and they soon set about a recovery mission. Saied and Connor Cullen both had shots deflect for corners while a Kuhl free kick fizzed through the box to end up in Lavercombe’s arms and an Olly Pendlebury strike was nowhere near.
Malachi Linton replaced McCootie just before the hour and within two minutes the hosts were three up. Grimes lofted the ball into the middle and it broke for Chamberlain to send a strike towards goal. Not sure whether it was going in, but Stearn made sure by diverting it past the wrong-footed Turner from close range for his 11th goal of the season. A strong run from Morgan then set up Smith to scorch a shot past the far post from distance but Farnborough continued to enjoy much of the possession as they forlornly tried to get back into it. The Town defence though were not inclined to donate any festive gifts to their guests.
Cameron Evans replaced Morgan with a quarter of an hour remaining as numerous balls into the Taunton area continued to be defended. Lavercombe earnt his corn when he ensured there was no way back for the Yellows when he turned Connor Hall’s shot wide at his near post and when the resultant corner wasn’t cleared, a return cross saw Hall direct a header wide when he might have done better.
The Peacocks weren’t done at the other end though and concluded the scoring after 85 minutes when Stearn did well to make inroads to the byeline and centre for Evans to fire home past the exposed Turner. Lavercombe pushed away a shot from Kuhl and Pendlebury curled a free kick over the top during five minutes of added time, but this was all academic as the battle had long been won, victory lifting Town up two places to 14th and with games in hand to delve deep into the play-off mix.
Line-Ups
Taunton: Dan Lavercombe, Nick Grimes (captain), Dan Ball, Austen Booth, Ollie Chamberlain, Lloyd James, Nick McCootie (Malachi Linton 58), Joe Guest, Ross Stearn, Zac Smith, Dylan Morgan (Cameron Evans 75). Unused subs: Jay Foulston, Lee Lucas, Steve Phillips
Farnborough: Jack Turner, Courtney Fearn (captain) (Ricky Holmes 70), Ollie Robinson, Edon Pruti, Reggie Young, Connor Cullen (Taylor Maloney 70), Olly Pendlebury, Selim Saied, Aaron Kuhl, Connor Hall, Sid Nelson. Unused subs: Jack Ball, Adam Mekki, Jaden Perez
Officials
Referee: Constantine Hatzidakis (Bromley)
Referee’s Assistant 1: Andrew Glanville (Plymouth)
Referee’s Assistant 2: Aidan Madden (Plymouth)
Attendance
680
Reaction
“We were really good value, we made a lot of good decisions, we took our chances……..” watch Rob Dray’s Match Reaction on Peacocks TV HERE
Highlights
Match Highlights can be seen on Peacocks TV HERE
Photos
Match Photos from Club Photographers Debbie Gould can be viewed HERE and Darren Harris HERE
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance MOM
Dan Ball receives the Taunton Town Man Of The Match award from Matchday Co-Ordinator Martin Dongworth
Mascots
Many thanks to our Matchday Mascots from the Football Fun Factory