A late Tom Purringon goal secured a 1-1 draw for the Peacocks in their latest pre-season friendly at Bishops Cleeve yesterday evening.

The Gloucestershire side, who play one level lower in the Southern League Division One South, enjoyed the best of the first half, having a goal disallowed for offside after 12 minutes. before eventually opening the scoring on 29 minutes when Ethan Dunbar won the ball ahead of Town keeper Adam Parkes and Ross Langworthy finished into an open goal. Taunton’s best chance fell to Evander Grubb who saw his effort from a tight angle kept out by the leg of host keeper Lewis Clayton.

The Peacocks improved after the break, with Purrington, Kyreese Morrison and Alfie Moulden all denied while Parkes did similar at the other end to foil Jay Malshanskyj. When Morrison hit the post it seemed Town would remain out of luck but in the 81st minute Purrington’s shot from the edge of the box took a slight deflection to deceive the keeper for the equaliser.

Taunton now focus on what will be their first competitive game of the season when they face Brislington in the final of last season’s Somerset Premier Cup at Bath City’s Twerton Park on Wednesday 31st July, ko 7.45pm.