Buildbase FA Trophy
Second round qualifying
Aveley 2, Taunton Town 1

TAUNTON Town were dumped out of the FA Trophy by lower league opponents Aveley on Monday night, as two first-half goals secured the Essex-based hosts passage to the third round qualifying stage.

The sides had drawn 3-3 in Somerset on Saturday, with the Peacocks twice coming from behind to force the replay, and they had it all to do again when they found themselves 2-0 down inside the first 25 minutes.

It proved too great a task this time, with Jack Rice-Lethaby’s late goal a mere consolation prize as Aveley claimed the £3,000 on offer to the winning side.

The Millers play in the Isthmian League North Division, one tier below Taunton in the Non-League pyramid, but they dominated from the start on home turf.

Peacocks goalkeeper Lloyd Irish had already saved from Wyan Reid, and George Sykes fired over the crossbar, when the hosts went ahead on 14 minutes.

Alex Akofri did the damage, picking up the ball and curling it into the top left-hand corner.

The visitors had a mountain to climb when Jason Raad doubled the lead in the 23rd minute, with a outstanding individual effort; he ran 45 yards with the ball, beating five players en route, before picking out the bottom corner.

Jamie Price saw an effort saved following a corner, but it remained 2-0 at half-time.

Sykes headed straight at Irish as the home side continued to threaten, while Matt Wright and Dan Sullivan – up front together in the absence of the suspended Andrew Neal – sent efforts wide of the goal at the other end, and Ryan Brett’s free-kick was tipped wide by David Hughes.

The Peacocks continued to huff and puff, with Jamie Short also seeing his effort saved, but they had to wait until the second minute of added time to get on the board.

Wright found substitute Rice-Lethaby, who beat Hughes, but it was far too little, too late.

Taunton Town: Lloyd Irish, Jamie Short, Lewis Hall, Ben Adelsbury, Nick Grimes, Jamie Price, Shane White, Ryan Brett, Matt Wright (c), Dan Sullivan, Harry Kite (Jack Rice-Lethaby 54). Subs not used: Ollie Chamberlain, Noah Coppin, Nathan Byrne, Callum Watts.

Taunton boss Rob Dray will be looking for a reaction when his side return to league action, at home to Blackfield & Langley on Saturday (ko 3pm).