Taunton failed to maintain recent form as they suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Shortwood United yesterday evening (4 September). Making their first visit to the Nailsworth club and after an opening half of few opportunities, Town snatched the lead on 40 minutes when a Raith Plant corner beyond the far post was headed back into the box by Neil Peek for Rodney Marsh to head past Tom King from eight yards. The scores were brought level two minutes after the break when Jake Parrott had a far too easy run through the Taunton defence and tucked the ball through the legs of Connor Sidley-Adams from the left side of the area. Lee Smyth had a shot tipped over and Craig Herrod forced a good stop from King but the home side were the more incisive and took the lead on 67 minutes when Rob Norrish was penalised for handball and Tim Haddock clipped the free kick over the Town wall into the net despite protestations that Town were waiting for the whistle. Late efforts from Herrod and Tom Hopkins failed to trouble King as Shortwood notched up their first win of the season. Match report now online.

Post-match comment: Town manager Leigh Robinson remarked:" We did ok in the first half and went in 1-0 up but the game turned straight after half time when we conceded a quick equaliser. From then on we weren't able to wrestle the momentum back again. The players feel very aggrieved at their second goal as it came direct from a free kick that the referee told us was on the whistle but he then allowed them to take a quick one. It's disappointing but a lesson learnt."

The Under 18 side were also out of luck as they exited the FA Youth Cup at the first hurdle, losing 3-0 to Chard Town. Trailing 2-0 at the interval, Taunton then conceded a debatable penalty in the second half to lose out in their first game of the campaign.