“IT’S not the Premiership, it’s not the FA Cup, it’s not the Champions League but it’s still a cup and we must respect it.”

So said then-Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho on the then-Carling Cup.
Taunton Town may have missed out on the big prize – winning promotion from Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West – but they do have the opportunity to end their season with a trophy.

This evening sees the Peacocks take on Weston-super-Mare in the final of the Somerset Premier Cup at Fairfax Park, Bridgwater (ko 7.45pm).

The biggest prize of the season it may not be, but it’s a chance for the Peacocks to get their playoff semi-final defeat to Tiverton Town out of their system.

They can also put their name on the Premier Cup for the fifth time, having previously won it in 2002/03, 2005/06, 2013/14 and 2014/15.
Weston-super-Mare, winners in 2010/11 and 2011/12, play in National League South – the same division as Chelmsford City and Hemel Hempstead.

The latter were one of the Peacocks’ victims on their historic FA Cup run, while Chelmsford City edged past a Town side weary from their Cup battles with Barrow.

So we know that Leigh Robinson’s men can more than hold their own against teams playing at that level, but they have rather run out of gas as their 60-game season draws to a close.

It’s an opportunity, therefore, to pick some younger players, as the Peacocks have done in their wins over Odd Down, Clevedon Town and Keynsham Town leading to the final – Billy Greene, Rhys Ford, Charlie Melvin-Sparks, Tom Stone and Kye Toogood all gaining experience.

Speaking of youth, the club this week announced a development partnership with Bridgwater & Taunton College, with Town’s development coach Paul West and first-team player Ben Palmer both involved.

Catch the cup final as it happens with our live blog at somersetcountygazette.co.uk/sport from 7.15pm.