Southern League Premier South – Saturday 29th August 2026
Taunton Town 4 vs 3 Basingstoke Town Attendance 647
Venue: The Viridor Stadium, Wordsworth Drive, Taunton, TA1 2HG
Manager Dan Brownlie’s line-up for the trip to Taunton was: 1. Simon Grant, 2. Casey Bocarro, 3. Joe O’Loughlin, 4. Alex Solomon, 5. Sulayman Ceesay, 6. Billy Upton (Capt), 7. Jeremiah Okine-Peters , 8. Louis McGrory, 9. Mile Obodo, 10. Tom Blake, 11. Christos Papkonstantinou
On the bench: 12. Bernie Tanner, 14. D’Andre Brown, 15. Jonathan Gjoshe, 16. Finn Evans, 17. James Henry
Referee – Jake Woolley
Despite all the morning rain, the game got underway in sunshine, and with little in the first couple of minutes, a break by Taunton on the right, appears to see Billy Upton slip over on the wet pitch, allowing the Taunton forward to break inside our penalty area, and then slot the ball past Simon Grant into the net. Taunton 1-0 Basingstoke
Billy Upton despite looking injured was able to return to the pitch two minutes later.
Stoke started to come into the game, but Taunton were pushing down both flanks and won a couple of corners on either side which we defended, as we hit the ten-minute mark.
Taunton in another attack down the left, were to double the lead, as one of their players appeared to get fouled as he entered our penalty area, and the referee pointed to the spot. Taunton converted the penalty, Taunton 2-0 Basingstoke
The game restarted and two minutes later Taunton had found the net again, which then saw our Manager go in the book, and we made our first change as Billy Upton was replaced by Bernie Tanner (19 mins).
Stoke’s first noticeable attack was on twenty minutes as a good move on the left saw Miles Obodo, have a shot that was blocked away and Stoke rebuilt and then a shot from Christos was comfortably held by the Taunton keeper.
This seemed to ignite Stoke as a minute later we again broke, this time down the right through Christos, who pulled the back across the goal, to where Tom Blake was alone, and he neatly slotted the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of the net GOAL! Taunton Town 3 – 1 Basingstoke Town (Blake 22 mins)
A minute later, Stoke came close to adding a second, as a cross found Joe O’Loughlin inside the penalty area, whose shot rebounded over the bar for a corner on the left.
Stoke continued to attack and more good work from Obodo, saw his chipped cross saw the Taunton keeper unable to get a touch on it and, as a shot was blocked and Taunton cleared.
This action-packed half then saw Stoke push more that second goal, but Taunton continued to look dangerous everytime they attacked.
Taunton appeared to have added a fourth goal, but the linesman had flagged for offside.
With under five minutes to the break, a second controversial decision, saw Taunton break, and a last-man tackle by Sulayman Ceesay, saw the referee award a free-kick, then give Ceesay a second-yellow card, and Stoke were down to ten-men. Nothing came from the free-kick,
We played out three minutes of added-time and we go into the break with a lot to do to get back into the game.
Halftime Score: Taunton Town 3 vs 1 Basingstoke Town
The second-half got underway with the bright sunshine bearing down, as both teams failed to test the keeper. This was change done the hour-mark, as a shot forced Grant into a great save to keep the score at three.
Just before the hour-mark Grant made a good save down low, but this was to be of no avail, as another attack saw Grant get a hand to a shot and Taunton were first to the loose ball and slotted home from close range. Taunton 4-1 Basingstoke
Stoke made a double-substitution, with Christos Papkonstantinou replaced by D’Andre Brown, and Casey Bocarro replaced by James Henry (62 mins).
These changes seemed to instil some more belief into the ten-men, and good work from Okine-Peters and Obodo won corners on the left.
The game now in the final twenty minutes, saw a complete shift, as Stoke pushed forward time and time again, but a good save by Taunton’s keeper and another good block kept us out.
This was to change as a through ball saw Obodo break free from his marker and neatly curled a shot past the Taunton keeper into the net. GOAL! Taunton Town 4 – 2 Basingstoke Town (Obodo 74 mins)
Stoke were now fully on-top, as we broke again and again, as Taunton’s defence showed signs of wilting once more.
Stoke’s third goal was to arrive, as Okine-Peters chased down an over hit cross, and then beat his marker, and took the ball along Taunton’s byline then slid the ballast back to Blake who smashed a shot from ten yards into the roof of the net. GOAL! Taunton Town 4 – 3 Basingstoke Town (Blake 78 mins)
Stoke continued to press, but a rare Taunton break, saw Grant make another good save.
Stoke made it’s fourth change with Louis McGrory replaced by Finn Evans (85 mins).
It’s all Stoke now, as Stoke looked to have found the equaliser as the Taunton keeper get a fingertip to Okine-Peters powerful shot from outside the box, and the ball crashed against the post and away to safety.
This was to be Stoke’s last attempt on goal despite further good possession, and the referee allowed five minutes of added-time, before the final whites was blown, and Stoke go down to a narrow defeat on the road.
Fulltime Score: Taunton Town 4 vs 3 Basingstoke Town
Moulden 5 mins, Rice 17 mins (Pen) Blake 22 & 78 mins, Obodo 74 mins,
Murray 19 & 61 mins
Match Thoughts
Another Stoke game full of controversial incidents and action-packed chances and goals, saw us fight back with ten-men, and deserved an equaliser and a point. However, after two good defensive performances, we appeared open down both flanks for large parts of the game.
Billy Upton’s injury, likely means he’s out for Monday’s Bracknell game. Will we make any other changes to the starting line-up?
As rightly pointed out by our Manager Dan Brownlie, our travelling support was once again superb.
Next Up:
A quick turnaround as we host rivals Bracknell Town tomorrow afternoon KO 3pm.
Match Report by Martin French..
English 
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