A hat trick from captain Tom Smith steered the Peacocks to a fantastic victory on the south coast as they progressed to the 3rd Round Qualifying of the FA Cup with a 3-2 win over Poole Town.

Prospects had not appeared quite so promising at the break with the hosts in charge holding a two-goal lead but the second half, subject to a lengthy stoppage in play, witnessed a remarkable Town turnaround to extend their unbeaten run to six games.

The Taunton side showed two changes from the midweek jaunt to Plymouth, with Owen Brain and Alfie Moulden coming in for David Duru and the cup-tied Jayden Nielsen but the visitors could not have made a worse start to the tie.

A long ball down the right from Harry Thomas fell loose for Harvey Slade to take in his stride and surge into the box where he rounded Adam Parkes and slotted into an empty net after just three minutes to give Poole an early lead.

The Peacocks steadied themselves and began to show some intent, Moulden posting their first effort when his shot from the edge of the box found the arms of keeper Cameron Plain before a sloppy Taunton pass allowed Charlie Cummins to set Tom Hewlett free down the right, but Parkes stood firm to block comfortably.

Plain then claimed Jake Hodgson’s looping header from beyond the far post as both sides struggled to create a clear cut opportunity.

When there was sight of goal the target was missed, Hewlett latching onto Jamar Smith’s pass but skewing well wide for Poole while Brain’s free kick from distance sailed over, that was until the 34th minute.

Jake McCarthy’s chipped pass into the middle found Hewlett who switched feet to curl home a fine finish from 20 yards in off the far post.

Taunton now had it all to do facing a two-goal deficit. It might have been worse when a poor pass presented Thomas with an opening, but his shot lacked any power and Parkes collected while a tame shot from Smith at the other end had a similar outcome, ending a frustrating half in which the visitors delivered ample ammunition into the box but there was no blue shirt anywhere near to take advantage.

The Peacocks began promisingly when play resumed on a pleasantly sunny afternoon, Brain firing over before Moulden’s cross from the left evaded all to find Toby Down at the back post, but he sent his diving header wide of the mark.

An in-swinging cross from Morgan Lewis struck the top of the bar and went over before the Weston loanee curled an effort wide as the visitors edged ever closer, Moulden then seeing his shot palmed away by Plain at his near post.

The luck changed after 62 minutes. Brain’s corner from the left flicked on to Hodgson at the far post and his knockdown was touched in by Smith from close range.

A scrappy goal but just the tonic the Peacocks needed as within three minutes they were level.

An Ollie Woodhouse throw was headed clear as far as the edge of the box where Smith employed some dexterous footwork to volley home through a throng of players and send the travelling fans into raptures.

The momentum was now well and truly with the Peacocks.

However, due to a section of young Poole ‘fans’ getting excited the game was stopped and then suspended until the issue was resolved with their removal by the local constabulary.

When the match recommenced the impetus had naturally reduced given the 40 minutes that had passed.

Poole had the first chance, Hewlett moving in from the left but seeing his shot from a narrow angle being blocked by Parkes before skipper Smith got his side back on course.

After his low strike from just outside the area had rolled agonisingly wide, he sealed a memorable comeback when Moulden’s chipped cross from the right squirmed loose and Smith was there to stab home from close range for a 3-2 lead with 12 minutes left to play.

A decision for Man of the Match had to be made but there was no need to mullet over with the Town captain everywhere and he nearly added a fourth to his tally when Aysa Corrick broke up field to weight a neat ball into Smith’s path but on this occasion Plain denied him with an outstretched leg.

That miss might have had consequences had a strong late run from the Dolphins’ Antonio Diaz paid off, his cross landing for Slade whose effort was blocked off by Down.

Four added minutes were negotiated to secure passage, the final whistle sounding at 5.34pm to end an eventful day in Dorset.