AFTER three successive cup games Sholing were hoping to bounce back to league action with a bang at the Silverlake Arena this afternoon, writes WENDY GEE.

But they succumbed to a goal in each half as fourth-placed Taunton Town cemented their position in the play-off zone with a 2-0 Southern One South & West victory.

With his new club Gosport Borough in FA Cup action, Sholing’s former skipper and midfielder Byron Mason was back to boost the Boatmen, reuniting with brothers Barry and Daniel.

The Boatmen got off to a lively start but were caught out by a high ball as Taunton went ahead in the 10th minute.

Centre-back Stuart Mott stretched to cut it out, but succeeded only in heading it into the path of Brett TROWBRIDGE who nipped in behind and lifted his shot his shot over keeper Matt Brown.

With 21 minutes gone the Peacocks lofted another ball into the danger zone which Jude Nwachukwu headed behind.

Right-back Jamie Price wasn’t far away with a header across goal from the resulting Taunton corner.

For all their hard work. Sholing were finding openings hard to come by in the first half-hour – their best chances coming from corners. Byron Mason headed one effort onto the top netting from brother Barry’s delivery and, moments later, he flung himself at another of his brother’s flag kicks from the right, but narrowly failed to make contact.

The award of the second corner followed Sholing’s most promising move to date – Nick Watts forcing a panicked clearance by Taunton as he looked to turn in Barry Mason’s dangerous cross at the near post.

The Peacocks’ only chance during that spell of Sholing pressure had been a hard, low strike by Shane Kingston which Brown gathered at the second attempt in a crowded six-yard box.

The Boatmen deserved an equaliser from a good move on the stroke of half-time.

Barry Mason knocked the ball down the right to Alex Baldacchino who did well to skip round his marker before slipping a pass back to the Sholing no. 7. Mason quickly delivered the ball into the area where brother Byron headed straight at the keeper.

The Boatmen showed real intent at the start of the second-half with Watts making his presence felt on the left and Alex Sawyer bursting through one-on-one only to shoot tamely at keeper Lloyd Irish.

On 56 minutes Watts picked out Barry Mason with a searching pass from left to right. With Town skipper Steve Kingdon for company, Mason fired over from an acute angle but felt the ball had come off Kingdon and was infuriated when Poole referee Ben Cobb didn’t award a corner.

Mr Cobb further angered the Boatmen when he booked Byron Mason following a collision with Kingston that looked 50-50 at best.

Sholing made their first change just after the hour, withdrawing Daniel Mason and introducing Sam Wilson up front.

But unfortunately for the Boatmen, the next goal went Taunton’s way with Steve MURRAY striking first-time past Brown after latching onto a knock-down in the area.

The visitors should have had a third soon after but Kingston lashed a sitter over.

The Boatmen continued to ring the changes with Jess Walklin replacing Nwachukwu and Baldacchino’s replacement Nathan Lynch adding height an d muscle up front.

There was no shortage of endeavour from the men in red and white stripes, who belatedly burst back to life in stoppage time. First Byron Mason had athumping header skewed off the line by sub Craig Herrod following a corner.

Mott then forced another flag kick with a deflected 25-yard blast before heading another Mason corner wide of the back stick.