SHORTWOOD travel to Gloucestershire rivals Slimbridge this afternoon, searching for their opening league win of the season, writes Harry Ash.

They pushed top-of-the-table Taunton Town all the way at Meadowbank on Saturday, but lost out 2-1.

Taunton opened the scoring on seven minutes, Brett tapping in at the far post after Powell’s deflected shot.

Shortwood’s best moment of the half was a well-saved Adam Price free-kick with 34 minutes gone.

The Peacocks were awarded a penalty on 37 minutes when Meredith clattered into former Shortwood midfielder Ross Staley.

However, Powell was denied as on-loan Forest Green keeper Harry Pickering dived low to his right to repel the spot kick. Matt Wright should have added a second with three minutes of the half to play, but he headed over from six yards having been found by a Staley cross.

Powell almost scored a brilliant goal on the stroke of half- time, but his volley from the edge of the box was deflected just wide.

Taunton eventually doubled their lead on 48 minutes; Wright looked to have fouled Pickering as a cross was played in, but a free-kick was not given, and Mitchell was there for another far post tap-in.

With just over an hour played, Levi Cox was put through on goal by Kibble, but the striker was taken down by Taunton ‘keeper Irish outside the box.

A yellow card was issued. Shortwood halved the deficit with twenty minutes remaining; Cox was found by Harlie Price, and the striker was pushed by Villis in the penalty area.

The Taunton player was sent off, and Cox converted the penalty. A late period of Shortwood pressure ultimately came to nothing, as Taunton held on to the three points.

“We gave them too much respect in the first half,” said Shortwood manager Paul Meredith. “We stood off them and didn't ask any questions. In the second half we changed it and we were much better. We can count ourselves unlucky not to get something from the game.”

MOTM: Levi Cox

Shortwood: Pickering, Preece (Ockwell 70), Prictor, Meredith R, Thwaite, Kibble (Freeman 66), Price A, Singh (Marks 61), Morris, Price H, Cox

Attendance: 96