Evo-Stik Southern League South

Taunton Town 4, Walton Casuals 0

TAUNTON Town moved up to second in the Southern League Premier South table after easing past Walton Casuals at the Viridor Stadium.

First-half goals from Matt Wright and Pierce Mitchell were added to by Craig Veal and Dan Sullivan after the break as the Peacocks scored four times in a home win for the second time in five days.

Taunton’s top scorer Andrew ‘Rocky’ Neal was back from suspension but began from the bench as Rob Dray named an unchanged side from Saturday’s 4-2 win over Wimborne.

It was a decision which was immediately justified as the hosts took a 13th-minute lead in the most routine of fashions, captain Wright strolling in unmarked to meet Ryan Brett’s corner and plant a header through the legs of Denzel Gerrar.

The striker could, and perhaps should, have doubled his tally just six minutes later when a slip at the back let him in, but his powerful shot was too close to Gerrar and the goalkeeper made a comfortable save.

Walton showed glimpses of attacking promise throughout the first half, keeping the ball nicely at times, and were inches away from levelling when Jack Battie’s superb curling effort from 20 yards came back off the crossbar.

The hosts capitalised on their let-off, doubling their advantage on the half-hour when Mitchell found the bottom corner with a fine low shot from the edge of the box.

Dan Bennett spurned a presentable chance to halve the deficit before the interval, spooning over after brilliant quick feet by Taureen Roberts had worked an opening, and the Peacocks took a two-goal advantage into the break.

That became three just two minutes into the second half, Veal hooking home from close range after a corner wasn’t dealt with by the visitors.

Walton hadn’t won on their travels all season ahead of their visit to Somerset and a defensive howler on the hour ensured that record would remain.

Captain Joe Hicks attempted to flick an innocuous cross back to his goalkeeper but didn’t spot Dan Sullivan behind him – the frontman nipped in to nod past Gerrar and add an opportunistic fourth.

Hicks was then arguably lucky to stay on the pitch after lunging into his opposite number Matt Wright right in front of the Taunton dugout. The Casuals skipper was booked and in fact it was Wright who played no further part in the match – he limped off to be replaced by Harry Gardner.

The 17-year-old substitute came close to scoring his first goal for the Peacocks only to be denied by a fine save after a neat exchange of passes with Sullivan – by contrast, Walton’s work in possession grew sloppier as the match wore on.

The lead stayed at four, Lloyd Irish making a couple of smart saves late on, as Taunton secured three routine points – the only blemish on the night was the injury to Wright, with little time to recover before Saturday’s trip to Gosport Borough.

Taunton Town: Lloyd Irish, Pierce Mitchell, Lewis Hall, Ben Adelsbury, Ed Palmer, Matt Buse, Shane White, Ryan Brett, Matt Wright (Harry Gardner 67), Dan Sullivan (Brett Trowbridge 86), Craig Veal (Andrew Neal 61).

Walton Casuals: Denzel Gerrar, Harry Mills, Alex Kelly, Joe Hicks (c), Max Hustwick, James Ewington (Nathan Wood 72), Isaac Sarpong, Dan Bennett (Ronald Sobowhale 53), Jack Battie (Luke Holness 53), Taureen Roberts, Ryheem Sheckleford

Attendance: 369