Taunton Town’s next home fixture this Saturday sees them welcome 11th-placed Bracknell Town to the Cygnet Health Care Stadium.
The Peacocks are edging ever closer to completing their ‘Great Escape’. Three consecutive victories have lifted Town from 21st place, seemingly destined for relegation to Division One South, up to 18th, with a crucial game in hand over their rivals.
We may not quite have Steve McQueen riding off into the sunset, but there is certainly a fairytale unfolding. Legendary goalkeeper Lloyd Irish came out of retirement three games ago and has since played a key role in three successive Southern League wins – a first for the Peacocks this season. This run has seen Town climb out of the relegation zone for the first time since January. On Saturday, Irish also marked a remarkable 400th first-team appearance for the club. While he was unable to prevent an Ada Okorogheye strike finding the top corner, conceding just once across those three matches is a hugely impressive return. After all, it is the team’s goal difference that currently has them just above the drop.
Those three victories have each presented their own stern test – Walton & Hersham pushing at the top end of the table, and Uxbridge sitting top of the form standings. This weekend brings another significant challenge. Bracknell arrive on the back of a devastating 8–0 victory over Tiverton Town, a result which confirmed their safety from relegation. However, the Peacocks can expect no let-up, particularly as the Robins also secured a 3–1 away win against Farnham Town in their previous outing. All signs point to another blockbuster encounter at the Cygnet Health Care Stadium.
Johnson’s Thoughts:
“Fans come because they want to be proud of the team, the management, and the directors. They want to be proud of everything. Our supporters have seen some good games, and we’ve got three games to go. Nearly 900 supporters is brilliant, and it would be nice again if we can beat that number this Saturday, because the next win would see us take a big step towards securing our league status.”
There was also a double yellow card incident involving Owen Brain in last weekend’s 2–1 victory, and First-Team Manager Gary Johnson has since expressed his support for the midfielder with the following words:
“Over the weekend, I spoke to Owen and, rest assured, he has apologised to his teammates, me, and the club. He fully understands his conduct and how to improve his behaviour on the pitch. He’s a player with fantastic ability, and we just need to work with him on the mental side of his game to get the best out of him. He will serve his one-match suspension, and I’ve told him not to dwell on it but to learn from Saturday and train well.”
Bracknell Town Tickets:
Supporters can purchase tickets for Saturday’s Southern League Premier South fixture online through FanBase here.
Adult – £14.00
Concession (State Pensioners + Students) – £11.00
Juniors (16 and under) – £5.00
Under 6 free with a paying adult – £0.00
Match Coverage:
We will provide live updates across our social media channels throughout each game, along with post match interviews. You can also listen live to Rich Smith and William Ledbury’s match commentary from 10 minutes before kick off: Peacocks Radio.
