Southern League Division One S&W

Taunton Town 0 Bridgwater Town 0

BRIDGWATER Town went back up the A38 on Tuesday night with a well earned point after holding shot-shy Taunton Town to their fourth 0-0 draw of the campaign at the Viridor Stadium, writes Kerry Miller.

It would be unfair to say they rode their luck as the home side missed a penalty, hit the post and had a goal disallowed but as they were the only three shots on target all night then the result was about right, if frustrating for the Wordsworth Drive faithful.

Bridgy boss Paul West, who had many a happy day at Taunton as well as a few not so, was absent but he would have been impressed with the way his side battled against an attack which seemed to stem mostly from Jamie Short on the right and Dale Evans on the left whose runs and crosses caused problems sporadically.

Town fielded new signing Ollie Chamberlain, who returned from Bridgwater while they had Josh Klein-Davies in their side who made the reverse journey recently.

The balmy weather and dry spell also added to the occasion as the attendance of 541 is comfortably the highest for any match in the division this season.

The visitors were out of the blocks quickly with Klein-Davies shooting over and James Byrne’s 30 yard drive going well wide before home skipper Jamie Price nodded just over at the other end.

Short was showing well and his cross fell to Nuno Felix which also missed the target before another Short cross was blasted over by Jordan Rogers.

Bridgwater could have been handed a lead on 25 minutes when another ex-Town man Shaun Anthony, charged down a Lloyd Irish fly kick only to see it rebound wide instead of goalwards.

On the half hour Rogers won a heading dual just inside the Bridgy half but as Short went forward to drill his shot past Jake Viney the offside flag cancelled it out.

The Robins were relying on counter-attack which was occasionally effective and when Reeko Best’s long ball out of defence found Klein-Davies again he brought a fingertip save from Irish.

The same man had a lob saved moments later before Ben Carter ventured forward from his position just in front of the back line to shoot at Viney, the first on target attempt of the line for Town with ten minutes to go to the break.

Moments after the restart Town were given a lifeline when Felix’s cross was handled by Kye Thomas in the box and referee Dadds pointed to the spot.

Carter’s shot was beaten away by Viney and despite at least a dozen players being in the box when the kick was taken, play continued and the chance was gone.

It was an all action start to the half as Taunton went for the jugular but Bridgy held their shape and once the fire began to go out they sensed more than a draw was possible with Klein-Davies and Best both having chances.

With ten minutes left Short won a battle with Josh White and his cross found Evans whose angled shot hit the post and with it went the chance of three points rather than one.

Taunton Town: Lloyd Irish, Jamie Short, Nuno Felix, Jamie Price, Matt Vallis, Charlie Hitchings, Dale Evans, Ben Carter, Jordan Rogers, Ollie Chamberlain, Craig Veal. Subs: Josh Searle 64, Aiden Chainey 73, Michael Meaker 87.

Bridgwater Town: Viney, O'Sullivan, O'Neill, White (c), Thomas (75 B.Palmer), Mountford, Byrne, Wadham (87 Sinnott), Best, Anthony, Klein-Davies.