Recap

Report

A late Weston goal condemned the Peacocks to a seventh home defeat in a row and with it relegation back to the Southern Premier League. Three points were the only antidote to prevent dropping back to Step 3 football after two years in the National League South but despite plenty of attacking intent, the inability to score goals led to the inevitable outcome, a trait over the whole season with Town recording the lowest goals tally in the division apart from bottom side Dover Athletic.

With Dan Lavercombe suspended after his red card against Slough a week earlier, Lloyd Irish took over between the sticks while the injured Nat Jarvis was replaced by Evander Grubb, making his first league start, the only two changes from the meeting with Torquay United two days earlier. The Seagulls settled quicker though and were close to taking the lead inside five minutes when Jacob Jagger Cane’s cross from the right was met by James Dodd’s downward header but Irish got down superbly to turn wide.

Town began to warm to the task and after Ross Stearn had blasted over from distance, Callum Dolman tested Weston keeper Max Harris with a shot from the edge of the box. Grubb then demonstrated some trickery on the right to win a corner from which the ball was recycled by Stearn’s overhead kick for Cameron Evans to see his header held. Evans put another header over from a James corner and Ollie Chamberlain drifted in from the right to drill a swerving shot over the top as the hosts continued to press forward before the visitors responded, Jason Pope firing narrowly over following a raid from Bailey Kempster down the left and then Dayle Grubb seeing his free kick held by Irish.

The home side ended the first half in the ascendancy as they posted a trio of goal attempts. A James corner wasn’t well struck but squirmed to Dolman who directed over from six yards before a Zac Bell long throw was cleared as far as James whose shot was tipped over by Harris who then pouched Ben Acey’s strike from 25 yards. Frustratingly though the scoreboard remained inactive as the Peacocks retired to the changing room aware they only had 45 minutes to keep their season alive.

Town remained out of luck in front of goal in the second half, a Bell shot being blocked in front of the line and when James chipped the ball back in Grubb couldn’t get enough on his header to trouble Harris. The hosts made their first switch just before the hour when Zac Smith appeared for the first time in a month to replace Stearn before Taunton’s Grubb saw another effort palmed down and gathered by Harris while Weston were similarly failing to trouble the scorers, Marlon Jackson firing two shots off target.

The clearest opportunity for the Peacocks to grab that all-important goal arrived with just under 20 minutes to go, Acey’s pump upfield reaching Grubb who evaded the attentions of Pope to put him clear on goal. However Harris stood firm to block, and the chance had gone before Bell’s cross to beyond the far post was met by Chamberlain’s header which looped back over and wide. The appearance of Marcus Day raised a cheer when he took over from Dan Ball for the final ten minutes, with Town threatening again when Evans got on the end of a Bell throw to see his back header clutched by Harris.

With Town fans nervously glancing at their watches, their hopes were crushed six minutes from time when a clearance led to Robbie Willmott releasing Jackson who clipped the ball over Irish to hand Weston the lead. The Peacocks could not muster a suitable response in the minutes that remained. An Evans header landed on the roof of the net while a late substitution saw Jay Murray replace Rabby Tabu Minzamba, but even with five added minutes there was to be no late miracle as Taunton suffered their first relegation in their history on a sad night at Wordsworth Drive.

Line-Ups

Taunton: Lloyd Irish, Zac Bell, Dan Ball (Marcus Day 79), Ollie Chamberlain, Lloyd James (captain), Ben Acey, Rabby Tabu Minzamba (Jay Murray 87), Ross Stearn (Zac Smith 58), Cameron Evans, Callum Dolman, Evander Grubb. Unused subs: Nick Grimes, Seb Bolton

Weston: Max Harris, Keiran Thomas (captain), Jason Pope, Jacob Jagger Cane, Lloyd Humphries, Sam Avery, Robbie Willmott (Oscar Collins 90+3), James Dodd, Marlon Jackson, Dayle Grubb (captain) (Alex Fletcher 87), Bailey Kempster (Jamie Soule 66). Unused sub: Freddie Butchers

Officials

Referee: Steven Hughes (Sussex)
Referee’s Assistant 1: Graham Pearce (Melksham)
Referee’s Assistant 2: John Duffy (Bristol)

Attendance

957

Reaction

“It relegates us which is disappointing for me as a manager……” watch Rob Dray’s match reaction and reflections on the season 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

The whole team were recognised for their efforts during the past season.

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