Taunton Town FC came out on the wrong end of an eight goal thriller as they suffered a 5-3 defeat at Stratford Town in the Calor League yesterday afternoon (29 March). The Peacocks can count themselves unlucky not to have taken something from the proceedings as they enjoyed equal possession to their hosts and created numerous chances, but Stratford’s pacy attack, helped by a piece of good fortune here and there, made the difference and demonstrated why they have now registered 89 league goals this season to date. Chris Sterling and Tyrone Fagan came close for the home side whilst Nat Pepperell forced two decent saves out of Andy Kemp at the other end before Stratford went ahead on 24 minutes, Fagan planting a firm header past Joe Perry from Jamie Sheldon’s cross. The Peacocks continued to find openings up until the break with Jamie Price shooting narrowly wide and Steve Murray lashing a drive across the face of goal but two minutes into the second half they grabbed a deserved equaliser. Jamie Short headed down for Price to advance to the byeline and cut the ball back to Ross MacNab who poked the ball home. A fortuitous deflection handed the Warwickshire side the lead again on 55 minutes when Trey Braithwaite’s off-target left footed effort took a wicked diversion off Short, completely wrong footing Perry as it flew into the net. MacNab nearly drew the sides level again, rounding the keeper but finding the side netting from a tight angle, but it was Stratford who went 3-1 up on 62 minutes when Sheldon curled a fine effort into the far corner from the left side of the box. A hotly disputed refereeing decision enabled the home side to go further ahead on 69 minutes when Ben Carter was unjustly penalised for a firm but fair tackle and from Sam Adkins’ ensuing free kick, the division’s top goalscorer Richard Gregory volleyed home a scorcher from the right side of the area. The Peacocks refused to lie down though and Pepperell reduced the deficit when he stroked Carter’s centre into Kemp’s left corner from ten yards. A quieter final quarter hour was then enlivened by two late goals. Sterling’s powerful run through the Town defence saw his cross despatched by Gregory after 89 minutes to leave the visitors trailing 5-2 but a challenge by Callum Burgess on Murray led to referee Lisa Rashid awarding a penalty which Murray confidently fired home one minute into stoppage time. Match report online soon.
Manager Leigh Robinson said: “It was an open game and on the balance of play and chances I thought we were unlucky to lose as we were well worth a draw. Their second goal changed the game as at 1-1 we were on top but hurt by a cruel deflection. That played into their hands as they are a good attacking side and getting their noses in front enabled them to sit back and do just that. Bearing in mind that we played on Thursday and were down to the bare bones I couldn’t have asked any more of our lads but we were ultimately made to pay for missed chances.”