Pitching In Southern League
Premier South
Taunton Town 2, Dorchester Town 1

TAUNTON Town came from a goal down to beat Dorchester Town on Tuesday night, a result which takes them up to eighth in the Premier South standings.

Both teams arrived at the Cygnet Health Care Stadium off the back of five-goal defeats - the Peacocks against Tonbridge Angels in the FA Cup, and Dorchester losing 6-1 to Salisbury in the league.

Taunton have fielded a largely unchanged line-up this season, but Tuesday’s match saw Jack Goodall come in for his debut at right-back, while midfielder Dan McBeam was in for defender Ben Adelsbury and Owen Howe started up front.

It was the visitors - managed by former Peacocks boss Leigh Robinson - who struck first, taking the lead on 20 minutes.

Tom Bath found Olaf Koszela, and he picked out the top corner from the edge of the box.

Howe and Ollie Chamberlain has efforts saved as the home side sought a way back into the contest.

Their equaliser came five minutes before half-time, from a familiar source.

Prolific frontman Toby Holmes broke clear and coolly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Will Buse.

It remained 1-1 at half-time but Taunton led just a minute into the second period, as birthday boy Chamberlain was afforded the space to chest the ball down and volley in via the post.

The rest of the match saw both keepers tested, but no further goals.

Lloyd Irish was solid in the home goal, while Buse - on loan from Bristol City - made fine stops to deny Chamberlain, Holmes and Lee Lucas.

There were five minutes added on, and Dorchester almost snatched a point at the death, but Irish made an excellent save from Harry Burns.

Taunton Town: Lloyd Irish, Jack Goodall, Jay Foulston (Ross Staley 58), Nick Grimes (c), Jake Wannell, Joe Guest, Ollie Chamberlain, Dan McBeam (Lee Lucas 53), Dan Sullivan, Toby Holmes, Owen Howe (Gethyn Hill 53). Subs not used: Jordan Copp, Jamie Short.

This coming Saturday (3pm) sees Taunton host Truro City in the FA Trophy.

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Taunton head of football Rob Dray told the County Gazette: "Dorchester lost 6-1 on Saturday, so a lot of our supporters might have thought we'd beat them 7-1, but it never works like that.

"They changed a few things, slowed the game down and made it difficult for us.

"Their goalkeeper - Matt Buse's brother - was brilliant for them.

"We just had to get the win."

On the new system deployed by the Peacocks, with an extra man coming in to midfield, Dray said: "They adapted OK - some of the lads haven't had a huge amount of game time recently.

"We've put a lot into the last six weeks, with a lot of games and a lot of derbies, and that's been tough.

"So it was important to share that workload.

"[New signing] Jack Goodall was a little rusty, as he's been training with Weston but not playing, but he did alright.

"There was enough there for us to think 'we've got us a bit of a player here'."