TAUNTON are in all sorts of trouble at the foot of Premier Two after going down by five wickets at home to Bristol last Saturday.

On winning the toss, Taunton captain Reg Keates, had no hesitation in batting first, and the skipper looked in great form moving the score to 24 after only four overs. The runs then started to dry-up and Keates, attempting to seize back the initiative, was caught at mid-on by Kevin Blackburn for 22 trying to hit the left-arm spin of Brown over the top.

This brought Jack Cooper to the wicket, who has been his side's most consistent batsman this season. And, in another fine partnership with the resolute Sam Shaikh, Cooper once again delivered the goods with a well compiled half-century.

However when Cooper (55) and Shaikh (33) both departed in quick succession to Brown, Taunton's middle-order were left with a re-building job to do at the half-way point of the innings, with the score just below three figures.

James Bullough, Rob Berry (16) and Dan Davis (21) all got starts, but none of them were able to go on to play the major innings that was required. The left-arm spin of Paul Redwood (3-41 from 11 overs), played a key part in restricting the home side's ability to score freely, and he combined well with his 'keeper, Simon Hall, to remove Bullough and Jon Todd.

Andy Mason (14 not out) did his best to get Taunton up to the 200 mark, but a final score of 182-9 was disappointing given the conditions.

In addition to Redwood, Brown with 4-51 from his allocation of 15 overs, was the pick-of the bowlers.

Nevertheless, this young Taunton side are not without spirit, and two early successes for Davis gave them renewed hopes. He had the prolific Blackburn nicely caught at the wicket by Jon Kerslake and then bowled Brown with a beauty, to leave Bristol 16-2.

Not for the first time in his career, however, Redwood was to prove to be a thorn in Taunton's side, as he set about repairing the early innings damage with impressive 17-year-old, Will Tavare.

Both batsmen survived drops, but it was to their credit that they made the most of their extra lives in compiling a century stand, which brought their side to the brink of victory.

Both batsmen fell in quick succession, Davis (3-44 from 12) picking up another scalp when he trapped Tavare in front for 64, before Redwood fell for 68 - giving a much-deserved wicket to Keates.

Stephen Wheeler then bowled Ryan Jamieson, to leave the visitors five down, but it was too little, too lateand they got home with almost four overs left.

Taunton entertain Knowle on Saturday, knowing that the opportunities left to claw themselves to safety are now rapidly running-out.