Shepton Mallet returned from Tavistock in Devon on Saturday with mixed feelings - frustration at being pegged back after building a two-goal cushion countered no doubt by relief at having a second bite of the cherry after resisting a rampant home side in the second period of an always high tempo and entertaining game.

Keiran Bailey's goalward header for Shepton brought the first save of the game from Tavistock keeper Jack Ord after four minutes, before Asa White took up where he had left off at Melksham five days earlier, converting a cross after Aaron Seviour and Jack Fillingham had combined well to earn Shepton a sixth minute corner.

Soon after Liam Watson set up Fillingham whose hooked shot from a tight angle just cleared the home crossbar.

However, after Shepton had controlled the early stages, the hosts came to life and a cross from the ever dangerous Jack Crago after 18 minutes was deflected into the path of Reece Shankley who knocked in an equalising goal.

However, within a minute Shepton regained their advantage when Andy Martin's free kick was met by a firm header past Ord from Keiran Bailey for his first goal for the club.

Shepton's man of the match Jonny Hill made his first good stop of the day midway through the half from Crago and after half an hour he raced from his line to deny Crago again as he saved with his legs.

Shepton had Watson to thank soon after for clearing a dangerous Crago cross from the goal-line, and another good home attack ten minutes before half time ended with a Luke Brown shot deflected for a corner.

Shepton's resilient defensive work was rewarded after 42 minutes when they stretched their lead, albeit now against the run of play, as Fillingham's cross was knocked in by Joe Morgan.

From the restart that man Crago weaved his magic with a run past several opponents, before hitting a shot that looked a goal all the way until Hill somehow stretched and tipped the ball round a post for a corner.

Four minutes after the restart, White tripped Tavistock's Liam Prywn in the area and Crago knocked the spot kick past Hill to make it 2-3, and in the following 20 minutes or so the sides traded half chances, with Martin, Seviour and Fillingham all having shots saved or blocked for Shepton, and the lively home substitute Tallan Burns going close for his side.

Midway through the half Shepton substitute Tyler Davis made a good interception before his well-hit cross into the middle was just gathered in by Ord with Seviour waiting to pounce.

The home side bossed the last 20 minutes, though, and their mounting pressure brought them a 77th minute equaliser through Crago with a fine individual effort.

Hill did well to save a shot from Burns soon after, but Shepton hung on to take the Devon side back to Shepton on tonight (September 10).

Team

1. J.Hill
2. B.Haines
3. A.Martin
4. K.Bailey......scored one goal
5. A.White.....scored one goal and cautioned
6. L.Watson
7. F.Haines
8. C.Peck
9. A.Seviour
10. J.Fillingham
11. J.Morgan.....scored one goal

J.Lovibond