Taunton Town vs Gresley Rovers
Striker Justin Rowe was missing for this game having been recalled to Telford United for their FA Trophy clash giving Carl Francis the chance to partner Kriss Nurse upfront.
Gresley stared brightly with Francis setting up Nurse for an early chance but his shot went straight into the arms of Town keeper Paul Edwards.
On 6 minutes Edwards was called into action again this time turning a fine shot from Francis round the post for a corner kick.
At the other end Adrian Foster went close putting a thunderous shot just past the upright.
On 18 minutes it was the turn of the Gresley keeper Dale Belford to show off his skills when he superbly blocked a close range header from Tommy Callinan.
Taunton were denied the lead six minutes later when Callinan's goal was ruled out for pushing.
At the other end, Leon Doughty put the ball over when well placed after Gary White had sent in a free kick.
With only a couple of minutes to go before the break, Taunton took the lead against the run of play. Belford pushed a swerving free kick from Antony Lynch onto the bar but the ball was bundled over the line by Danny Harris.
Gresley did not get going in the second period and allowed Taunton to dominate the proceedings as they went looking for a second goal.
Belford did well to hold onto a corner when under pressure from Foster and then Danny Haynes was called on to sweep the ball away for a corner as the Peacocks threatened. Foster was unlucky on 75 minutes when his header came back off the bar.
The Gresley manager made changes during the second half to try and spark the visitors into action, and, it was one of those substitutions, John Branch, who denied the home side from increasing their lead by clearing off the line on 81 minutes.
Taunton were not to be denied their second goal and well into time added on a Foster cross was headed home by Lynch although the unlucky Belford managed to get a hand on it the ball went in off the post.
Gary's view of the game
"After a very enterprising 1st 30 minutes we simply didn't create enough to trouble the Taunton defence in the 2nd half. I thought some of our football in the 1st period was excellent and i felt that we were the better side during that time.
"We had a good shape, used the ball well and created a few decent half chances and were unlucky not to take the lead after Carl Francis had his effort well saved. I thought we were unlucky to be behind at half time. The goal was frustrating as Dale had made a decent save from the free kick but defensively we simply didnt react quick enough to the bits and the balls ended up in the back of our net. At half time the lads were very positive and I told them that if we kept trying to do the right things then the breakthrough would come.
"The problem was that in the 2nd half we tried to force things. The good football we were trying to play in the 1st period was replaced by more direct stuff. We lost our whole shape width wise in midfield, gave the ball away far too cheaply and in all honestly looked a poor side.
"Work rate wise, I couldn't really fault the lads but we looked like a side short on ideas in that 2nd half and it simply wasn't good enough from our perspective. Putting it simply, we look nowhere near the side we were a couple of short months ago and we seem to be limping our way to the end of the season.
"With 4 games to go these type of performances simply will not do and with Ilkeston up next at the Moat ground we had better react in a positive way otherwise that game will follow down the same road as this.
"Obviously we missed Justin Rowe up top and indeed Matt Smith and Jamie Hood were missing again in defence but I still felt that we had more than enough to come here and get something from the game. Taunton are on a good run themselves and only two months ago were 3rd from bottom in the league but we still should have taken something from the game. On the positive side, Tom Guiney and John Branch came off the bench and looked reasonably solid and I will probably be looking at them as well as one or two other youngsters between now and the seasons end.
"The 2nd goal in injury time was a blow because I felt that Dale deserved a little more as he had made some great saves and actually got a good hand to the ball for the 2nd goal but it went in off the inside of the post."
Taunton Town (1) 2
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Scorers: Harris 43, Lynch 90
Taunton Town: Edwards, Heath
, Dicks, Allen, Watson, Harris, Fisher, Callinan (Russell 70), Foster, Booth, Lynch. Subs not used: L Jones, Aguido, Musker, Mogg
Gresley Rovers: Belford, Wardle, White, Haynes (Guiney 70), Cheetham, Slater, Doughty (Branch 63), Barrett, Francis, Nurse (N Jones 66), Daniels. Subs not used: Norton, Clarke (gk).
Rovers Star Man: Dale Belford – another good display
Referee: A Bennett (Oakhampton).
Attendance: 231
