Didcot Town suffered their third defeat in four Evo-Stik Southern League matches when convincingly beaten 3-0 at home by second-placed Taunton in Saturday’s Division 1 South & West promotion clash.

The scoreline was harsh on the hosts, who started the day just one place behind their opponents.

Taunton took the lead midway through the first half when James Price played in Craig Herrod, who slotted past James Foster.

They dominated the play for the rest of the half without seriously testing Foster.

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  Didcot looked the brighter in the second half and just like in Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw with Shortwood United, the introduction of Pablo Haysham, still suffering with an ankle injury, sparked the side into life.

Haysham came up with the host’s best effort with a header from Matty Woodley’s cross, but it was stopped by a diving save from Taunton keeper Lloyd Irish.

Just as Didcot were pressing forward and troubling the visitors, a poor back-pass from Adam Learoyd gifted an opportunity to Graham Mercieca who duly delivered to put it past Foster to double the lead.

This killed off Didcot’s hopes of a comeback.

With the Railwaymen pushing to get a goal back, Aaron Ward-Baptiste ran from halfway past three defenders and fired past Foster for Taunton’s third goal to seal the victory.

The result saw Didcot slip down to fifth.

Didcot Tn: Foster, Elkins, Woodley, Ballard, Carnell, Learoyd, Dutton-Black (Haysham 55), Self, Mills, Brooks, Longford. Subs not used: Baines, Williams, Heapy, Organ.

Attendance: 130.

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