A stoppage time equaliser from Reece Hedges salvaged a 1-1 draw for the Peacocks against Bedford Town in their final pre-season friendly yesterday afternoon.
The game proved a good test for Taunton who were making their first appearance of the summer at the Cygnet Health Care Stadium with a crowd just shy of 500 enjoying the action in the sunshine. The home side carved out several openings during the first half, with Bedford keeper Oliver Bosworth denying Archie Ferris and Sam Brown heading Evander Grubb’s follow-up off the line. Owen Brain also bent a shot narrowly wide for the hosts who went behind six minutes before the break after a well-worked move ended with Robert Hall setting up Connor Tomlinson to tuck home from close range.
Tom Smith’s strike deflected just wide as the Peacocks kept pressing in the second half before making nine substitutions on the hour, with one of those replacements Ethan Vaughan making a brilliant clearance off the line to prevent Tomlinson from adding another for Bedford from a breakaway. Then with three minutes of added time played, a Matt Spiller free kick from the right fell loose to Louie Slough whose shot was blocked and landed for Hedges to roll home into the bottom corner to gain a deserved draw.
All eyes now on the big kick-off next Saturday (10th August) when the Peacocks entertain Gloucester City in their Southern League Premier South opener!