BEACONSFIELD Town were beaten 2-1 at home by Southern Premier South leaders Taunton Town on Saturday.

Rams’ mixture of youth and experience more than held their own at Holloways Park against a Taunton side on course for back-to-back promotions.

Boss Gary Meakin was missing Ravan Constable through suspension and Bajram Pa-Shaj with an injury, so he handed debuts to Hayes & Yeading loan keeper Jack Smith and new signing Thomas Gogo from Staines.

Brendan Matthew dragged an early effort wide for the home side and then fired over in a bright start for the hosts.

And even though Taunton looked dangerous out wide through Ollie Chamberlain and Andrew Neal, Rams keeper Jack Smith did not have to save a single shot on target during a goalless first half.

Taunton’s Ed Palmer nodded over from a corner soon after the restart, but it was Beaconsfield who broke the deadlock on 49 minutes, Matthew directing a superb header into the corner from a Louis Stead cross after fine work by Jon-Jo Bates in midfield.

However, Rams sat back on their lead and Taunton grabbed a controversial equaliser in the 62nd minute when Dan Sullivan’s shot from the edge of the area nestled in the far corner despite appearing to strike teammate Ollie Chamberlain in an offside position on its way in.

Meakins men continued to create chances, but they were undone by Palmer’s almost comical late winner.

Sullivan’s shot from 20 yards struck the left-hand upright, spun up off the face of the bar, fell to Matt Wright who somehow hit the other post from less than a yard – only for Palmer to eventually bundle the ball home.

But the visitors also relied on a superb save from Lloyd Irish to deny Charlie Losasso a last-gasp equaliser for Rams.

Beaconsfield are 12th in the table and travel to Kings Langley in ninth this Saturday (3pm ko).