The Peacocks face their biggest challenge of the season so far when they welcome Maidenhead United to the Cygnet Health Care Stadium in the 4th Round Qualifying of the Emirates FA Cup tomorrow afternoon (12th October), ko 3.00pm.
Victories over Didcot Town, Poole Town and Amersham Town in previous rounds have brought Taunton to the final qualifying stage and just 90 minutes away from a place in the draw for the 1st Round Proper on Monday evening! Since losing at Hungerford in mid-August, the Peacocks have embarked on an impressive sequence of 10 games unbeaten and will be hoping to continue their five match winning run to reach the 1st Round proper for the fourth time in their history which will net them a further £9375 in prize money.
Standing in their way is the obstacle of National League Maidenhead, two levels above the Peacocks and buoyed by a run of three successive League victories themselves. The Berkshire club have a long history in the FA Cup, being one of 15 clubs to take part in the first ever competition in 1871 and actually reaching the quarter finals three times during the decade when known purely as Maidenhead. Fast forward around 150 years and the class of 2024-25 sit in 19th place in the National League. Three successive defeats and a draw began their season before they gained their first victory on August Bank Holiday Monday against Barnet. They failed to back that up by gaining only one point from their next five games but ended another run of three losses on the bounce by beating Ebbsfleet United which has been followed by two more wins over Boston United and most recently at Southend United last weekend. Town will definitely be the underdogs then against the Magpies who list former Peacock Zac Bell in their first team squad.
The Peacocks will be at full strength for the big clash apart from the cup tied Jayden Nielsen, Jay Malshanskyj and recent loan signing Jack Matthews who played for Tavistock earlier in the competition. Taunton manager Richard Luffman isn’t under-estimating the importance of the game, saying:” Tomorrow is an opportunity to put smiles back on faces of the Taunton Town supporters. After a difficult season last year on and off the pitch this represents a chance to do something special and we’re going to have to be all at it and all in it together, so we want support as loud as possible throughout the game. It’s going to be a real test, but the players will work their absolute socks off and let’s see if between all of us we can create a really special day at the Cygnet as we’ll be doing everything within our powers to win this game of football. We’ve worked tirelessly this week watching clip after clip of the opposition and we’ve prepped as well as we can, with the players doing a fitness session on Tuesday and tactical yesterday. We’re looking forward to putting everything into tomorrow and create a really special day. If we can get as many Taunton fans to come and support the boys as possible that will make a huge difference.”
If the scores are level after 90 minutes, the replay will take place at Maidenhead on Tuesday 15th October, ko 7.45pm.
Matchday Information
Turnstiles and Main Bar opens at 12 noon
Match tickets are available to purchase in advance online
Admission is also payable by card or cash at the turnstile, priced at £14 for Adults, £11 for Concessions (state pensioners & Students with ID), £5 for Youth (6 -16 years), children aged under 6 are free with paying adult
Printed Match Programmes will be available to purchase tomorrow from the Club Shop.
Match commentary will be available on Peacocks Radio
We welcome our Match Mascots Ruishton Under 10’s
Last meeting: this will be the first occasion the sides have met.