WINCHESTER City boss Craig Davis has described Evo-Stik South West leaders Taunton Town as “comfortably the best side we’ve played.”

While Davis felt the windy conditions, coupled with key absentees, had a big bearing on yesterday's 4-1 defeat at The Viridor Stadium, he admitted: “We were beaten by a good side.

“Taunton are a big club with a nice ground and a nice pitch and everything seems to be geared up for Southern Premier football.”

Without Pat Cox, Josh Harfield, Andy Jenkinson and Simba Mlambo, City trailed to a Ben Adelsbury penalty and an Ollie Chamberlain goal before Oli Bailey’s header halved the deficit.

The Peacocks restored their two-goal margin through Ross Staley on 54 minutes before Matt Wright drilled home Taunton’s fourth.

“We had an horrific wind in our faces first half and were without three of our tallest players against a big, strong, physical Taunton side,” said Davis.

“We penned them in second half and started to control the game, but they made it 3-1 on the counter-attack and then we gave the ball away for their fourth and it was game over.

“We tried to keep the ball down and we played some decent football, but the conditions first half gave them a huge lift and missing players killed us.”

Davis, however, was swift to praise 18-year-old dual-signed Poole Town player Joe Cook - an ex-Sheffield Wednesday academy defender - who made his debut at centre-half.

“I know we conceded four, but Joe’s performance was excellent against Taunton’s experienced forward Matt Wright. He stood up to the test ever so well,” said the boss.

Having played second-placed Bristol Manor Farm and leaders Taunton on consecutive Saturdays, City’s taxing run of fixtures continues at home to third-placed Salisbury this Friday (October 27, 7.45pm).