MATTY Holmes insisted he could not be too upset with Wimborne Town’s display after they succumbed to a second-half avalanche at Taunton Town.

Wimborne had led at the break against the Southern League South high fliers thanks to Curtis Young’s powerful strike from the edge of the box.

But four goals in 22 minutes from Ryan Brett, Dan Sullivan, Craig Veal and Matt Wright put the Peacocks firmly in command.

Wimborne substitute Jack Lovell fired into the net with his first touch late on but it proved only a consolation.

Boss Holmes told the Daily Echo: “Taunton are a force at home but we restricted them in the first half.

“We passed the ball out from the back really well, caused them problems with short, sharp passes and got a deserved lead.

“At half-time, we said to keep doing the same thing.

“We were on top early in the second half and speaking to their manager and assistant afterwards, they said if they hadn’t got the second goal then it might have been a really different story. We just couldn’t quite hold out.

“We changed shape a couple of times to try to nullify them and were coping well. But a couple of our mistakes allowed them back into the game.

“We couldn’t regroup quickly enough and couldn’t change anything from the bench – we had a couple of young lads and it would have been unfair to stick them on at that time.

“We could only play Jack Lovell for 10 minutes as he is still recovering.

“We spoke afterwards about how we need to tweak a few things but I can’t be too upset with the performance because apart from that period, the boys worked so hard.

“They are an honest group. It wasn’t as if they threw the towel in, it was just maybe a lack of concentration and people not being in the right areas.

“I was really pleased with the two Lukes (Holmes and Burbidge) up front. They were playing out of position and I thought they were excellent.

“With Curtis in behind them, they were ever so bright.

“There’s lots of positives from the game. It’s just a matter of keeping them upbeat and believing in what we’re trying to do.”

Wimborne took the lead 12 minutes in when Young controlled well and smashed low past goalkeeper Lloyd Irish.

The closest Taunton came in the first period was when Veal crashed against the bar just before the break.

However, after Franklyn Clarke’s shot was charged down, the hosts raced forward and Brett skilfully worked his way into space and slotted past Gerard Benfield.

Two minutes later, Benfield diverted a powerful Brett effort on to the bar and Sullivan reacted quickest to score.

Veal gave Taunton breathing space when he slid in Wright’s cross and the latter then lashed in a fourth from a tight angle.

Lovell finished clinically from Burbidge’s pass but the game was already effectively over as a contest.