GRAHAM Mercieca made Wimborne Town pay for a profligate first half by rescuing a 1-1 draw for promotion-chasing Taunton at Cuthbury.

Magpies made most of the running during the first half with Luke Stone firing over the bar when well placed early on.

Stone atoned for that miss when he broke in behind and teed up Sam Griffin to bury a deserved opener for the hosts.

But the former Merley marksman spurned a one-on-one opportunity before the break and the Peacocks battled back after the interval.

Mercieca’s deflected 30-yard free-kick restored parity and gave Taunton the impetus to push for a winner but Wimborne held out.

Magpies: Harvell, Arnold, Oliver, Maybury, Costello, Blake (Biles, 83), Griffin, Kellaway, Stone (Waters, 77), Gamble (Kemble, h-t), Stokoe. Unused subs: Phelps, Roast.