The Peacocks face their most testing challenge to date in their pre-season schedule when Yeovil Town visit the Cygnet Health Care Stadium tomorrow evening (23rd July), kick-off 7.45pm.
Friday’s seven goal mauling of Cheltenham maintained Town’s 100% record in friendlies so far but putting that result in context it was achieved against what was essentially a youth side. Tomorrow’s clash with the Glovers will be an altogether different affair, with the first team squad set to make the short trip down the A303.
Yeovil are preparing to begin their first campaign in the National League since being promoted from there in 2003 to join the Football League. However, a torrid season last time out saw them finish bottom of League Two and relegation back to the non-league arena. Under new manager Darren Sarll, the Glovers will be looking to make a fresh start in a bid to regain their league status. They have recorded wins over Stratford Town and Hereford in pre-season but lost heavily to Swansea City. On Saturday they drew 1-1 at the Peacock’s league rivals Dorchester Town.
Town will go into the game in good shape after scoring 14 goals in their three friendly matches and having not yet conceded but they know they will be hard pressed to extend those impressive stats against a side two levels higher. Naby Diallo is back in the reckoning after missing the Cheltenham game, otherwise there are no changes to the squad which will include recent signing Jack Rice. Ryan Brett is away so misses the game as he awaits the results of his scan.
Head of Football Rob Dray remarked:” The two games this week will be completely different to our three previous ones. We won’t see as much of the ball against better quality opposition so it will be great tests in a short period of time. We’re thoroughly looking forward to both games and putting some pressure on this group of players and see how they react. They have been superb in pre-season and now we will see where we are in the great scheme of things.”