Evo-Stik Southern League
Premier Division South
Hartley Wintney 3, Taunton Town 1

TAUNTON Town had their eight-match winning run ended in Hampshire in Saturday, as hosts Hartley Wintney beat the league leaders 3-1.

The home side were 12th in the table going into the game, with patchy recent form, but goals from Jack French, Mickel Platt and Josh Webb gave them the points on this occasion.

The Peacocks welcomed back Ben Adelsbury, Pierce Mitchell and Dan Sullivan, who had all missed the win over Harrow last weekend, with Adelsbury coming into the team and the other two named on the bench.

The first half was one of few chances at a rain-soaked Memorial Ground, though the hosts started marginally better and visiting goalkeeper Lloyd Irish was forced into an early save from a corner.

The heavy rain took its toll on the game, the sides cancelling each other out, and Andrew Neal's glancing header wide from Ryan Brett's cross was the Peacocks' best opportunity in a goalless first half.

The visitors began the second period well, as Brett and Lewis Hall saw efforts go just wide, but they fell behind on 59 minutes, as Josh Nelmes' slip allowed French the room he needed to pick out the bottom corner.

Taunton introduced Sullivan off the bench, and they were level in the 64th minute - Brett's corner being spilled into his own net by Hartley keeper Adam Desbois.

But just four minutes after that, the home side were back in front, as QPR loanee Platt headed past Irish.

The game had certainly livened up now, with Hartley continuing to create chances, Sullivan looking dangerous and Matt Buse having a long-range effort held by Besbois.

Neal passed up a late chance for a second equaliser, clipping the post with his effort, and it was game over when the hosts scored their third in stoppage time - Webb finding the bottom corner with a fine finish. 

Taunton Town: Lloyd Irish, Shane White, Lewis Hall, Ben Adelsbury, Ed Palmer, Josh Nelmes (Dan Sullivan 62), Matt Buse, Ollie Chamberlain (Craig Veal 87), Ryan Brett, Matt Wright (c), Andrew Neal.
Subs not used: Pierce Mitchell, Douglas Camilo, Keith Emmerson.
Attendance: 184

With second-placed Weymouth scheduled to play in the FA Trophy on Saturday (the match was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch), Taunton's lead at the top of the table remains at five points for now.

The Peacocks will aim to bounce back next Saturday, away to the league's bottom side Staines Town (ko 3pm).