BIDEFORD suffered their second 2-1 defeat of the Bank Holiday weekend as Taunton triumphed in the Zamaretto Southern League this afternoon.

After Saturday's FA Cup exit against Wimborne Town, the Robins were punished for wasting chances at the Sports Ground once more.

An own goal from Matt Bye and a stunning strike from Luke Cole sent the Somerset club back up the Link Road with a hard-earned win.

Jamie Mudge pulled one back with a sweetly taken volley but the hosts were unable to make their late pressure count.

It was a bad day for Bideford who also saw captain Dominic Rivans leave the field in the first half with a suspected broken cheekbone.

Taunton started brightly with Ross McNab firing an early chance over, then having a hooked effort headed clear by Bye.

A dipping volley from Matt Andrew was the closest Biddy came in the early stages before gradually they began to dominate territory.

Ellis Laight saw his close-range effort blocked by Chris Astley and the goalkeeper did well to get up quickly to save Mudge's follow-up shot.

As the resulting corner was cleared to the edge of the box, Darren Hawkings saw his spectacular volley flash just over the bar.

Mudge then stood a cross to the far post and Sean Downing was a fraction away from getting a finish touch to Laight's header.

On 32 minutes, Taunton grabbed the opening goal after a catalogue of errors in the home defence.

Chasing back from midfield, Bye saw his attempted clearance lob over on-rushing goalkeeper Matt Armstong-Ford.

The visitors should have doubled their lead moments later when McNab stole possession from Rivans and Corey Lewis crossed for Rodney Marsh who shot wide.

Astley was called into action again with a full-length save to deny Bye after he played a one-two with midfield partner Matt Hockley.

But Bideford were vulnerable to the ball over the top and one punt forward led to Rivans getting injured.

McNab gave the defender a little nudge and he collided with his own goalkeeper Armstrong-Ford as they attempted to clear the danger.

Without another recognised central defender, Nick Barker pushed inside alongside Hawkings and Paul Kendall while Karl Baker came on at left wing back.

The Robins almost snatched an equaliser at the end of an eventful half when Mudge saw a free kick deflect just over.

It was equally frantic in the second half as Bideford pressed for an equaliser and left themselves open to the counter-attack.

Substitute Kevin Squire, on for Bye, almost got a finishing touch to Hockley's cross yet the impressive Jon Vance was on hand to clear off the line.

Organised and hard-working, the Peacocks struck the decisive second goal 16 minutes from time.

Armstrong-Ford punched a cross clear and it was returned brilliantly by Cole who unleashed an unsavable 30-yard shot in off the post.

If Taunton thought that was game over they were in for a nervous time as Mudge volleyed through a crowded penalty area to make it 2-1 three minutes later.

Leading the late onslaught, he then tricked his way past three defenders before having a near-post shot beaten away by the defiant Astley.

The visitors has further chances to seal it on the break with substitutes Chris Veale firing against the post, and Alexis Piper being denied by Armstrong-Ford.

Their job was made harder in stoppage time when Darren Rice foolishly talked himself into a second yellow card after being cautioned for time wasting.

But Taunton held on to inflict a first defeat on Bideford in first division south and west this season.

Bideford: Matt Armstrong-Ford, Sean Downing, Nick Barker, Dominic Rivans (Karl Baker 43), Darren Hawkings, Paul Kendall, Matt Hockley, Matt Bye (Kevin Squire 59), Matt Andrew (Raiff Gwinett 89), Ellis Laight, Jamie Mudge.

Taunton Town: Chris Astley, George Painter (Tim Legg 33), Phil Veale, Chris McGrath, Jon Vance, Luke Cole, Andy Butler, Ross McNab (Alexis Piper 80), Corey Lewis (Chris Veale 57), Rodney Marsh, Darren Rice.