Bet Victor Southern League
Premier Division South
Wimborne Town 0, Taunton Town 3

ANDREW Neal scored his first goals of the season to help Taunton Town secure a second straight victory, away to Wimborne Town on Saturday.

Neal bagged 37 in all competitions last season, and his first two of the 2019/20 campaign – combined with Matt Wright's third in two games – secured three points for the Peacocks at Cuthbury.

Clearly boosted by the first win of the season last weekend, Taunton began strongly, with home goalkeeper Cameron Plain making a fine save to deny Neal and Jamie Short curling an effort narrowly off target.

The Magpies began to get a foothold in the game, with opportunities for Franklyn Clarke and James Stokoe, but it was the visitors who went ahead on 20 minutes – Wright scrambling the ball over the line after Bradley Webb had headed against the post amid a goalmouth scramble.

Billy Maybury should really have equalised for the hosts in the 35th minute, only to blaze over from a couple of yards out, and he was made to pay just a minute later, as Exeter City loanee Harry Kite dispossessed Luke Holmes and unselfishly laid it off for Neal to double Taunton's lead.

It remained 2-0 at half-time, and the second period began in similar fashion to the first, as Plain did well to save from Neal.

Kieran Roberts created an opportunity just before the hour after rounding Lloyd Irish, but with no Magpies team-mates up in support the chance was gone.

At the other end, Wright headed against the post from Shane White's cross on 66 minutes, but he was then replaced by Dan Sullivan, who was brought down for a penalty within two minutes of coming on.

Neal showed his usual accuracy from the spot, picking out the bottom left-hand corner to score his second and the Peacocks' third on 69 minutes.

The home side pressed in search of a way back into the match, but the visitors stood firm to collect their first clean sheet this season and a second win, having begun the campaign with two defeats.

Taunton Town: Lloyd Irish, Jamie Short, Bradley Webb, Ben Adelsbury, Ed Palmer, Jamie Price, Shane White, Harry Kite, Matt Wright (c) (Dan Sullivan 66), Zac Smith (Ollie Chamberlain 71), Andrew Neal (Jack Rice-Lethaby 77).
Subs not used: Luke Manley, Ryan Brett.
Attendance: 365

The Bank Holiday weekend is far from over for Taunton, as they host local rivals Tiverton Town at the Cygnet Health Care Stadium on Monday (ko 3pm).