The Peacocks wrap up their programme of friendlies with the visit of Bideford to the Cygnet Health Care Stadium tomorrow evening (5th August), kick-off 7.45pm.
This will be the eighth game of a generally successful pre-season for Town, having won four of their six friendlies played, with only a loss to Yeovil and a narrow defeat in the final of the Somerset Premier Cup being the setbacks. Tomorrow will be the Peacocks’ last chance to prepare in a match environment before the season starts for real on Saturday with the trip to Gosport Borough.
Former divisional rivals Bideford have also played seven matches in readiness for the new campaign, beginning with home defeats to Torquay United and Hereford. A 3-3 draw with Truro City was then followed by a 1-0 loss to Ilfracombe Town but since then they have won three on the spin against a Plymouth Argyle XI, Bridgwater Town and Elmore. The Robins, with long-serving manager and former Peacock Sean Joyce at the helm, finished ninth last season in the Division One South and will begin 2019-20 with a home match against Moneyfields on Saturday week.
Josh Grant is back in the reckoning for Town tomorrow after recovering from a sore calf, but Jamie Price is unavailable. Head of Football Rob Dray remarked:” Tomorrow is the last game of an intense pre-season. We wanted that amount of games though to get us in shape for what will be another challenging season. The intensity and work rate have been very good and we will need to maintain that against Bideford who will provide us with a tough test.”
Admission prices for the game have been reduced to Adults £5, Concessions £4, Under 18’s £2, Under 14’s and Season Ticket Holders Free.