TAUNTON Town boss Leigh Robinson will be hoping that the poor weather which accounted for Tuesday’s League Cup tie at Paulton Rovers will abate in time for Saturday’s league game at home to Swindon Supermarine (3pm), writes Kerry Miller.

The Wiltshire side are handily placed in sixth, just two points off the play-off spots and will be sure to stretch Town, who have gone off the boil of late with only the excellent Trophy replay win at Dorking Wanderers in the last seven games.

Saturday’s defeat at home to Isthmian Premier Division Bognor Regis Town was predictable but Robinson has reacted by releasing striker Josh Klein-Davies, ironically the scorer of the Peacock’s early goal as well as signing defender Matt Villis from Yate Town.

The 31-year-old defender began at Home Park, Plymouth Argyle as a trainee before going on to play league football for Torquay United for several seasons.

He then joined Tiverton Town in 2007 until switching to Conference South side Weston-super-Mare in late 2009 where he made more than 100 appearances.

Villis has spent the past two seasons with Tiverton and Bideford before signing for Yate this summer.

Robinson said: "We’re over the moon to have Matt on board.

“He’s a quality defender at this level and the level above and will bring us much needed experience.

“He knows lots of our lads in the dressing room already so will fit in nicely and we can’t wait to see him in action.”

Town's League Cup game at Paulton Rovers on Tuesday was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and will now go ahead this Tuesday kick-off 7.30pm.

Robinson was expected to again field a number of youth players at Paulton, as well as former Somerset cricketer James Regan, who has been training with Town since pre-season while playing for Chard Town to get match practice - and they may well be in the squad again on Tuesday unless there is a change of policy, with the recent exits from the FA Trophy and Somerset Premier Cup.

Paulton are having a nightmare season and are at the bottom of the Southern League Premier Division without a win and have recently appointed former Bath City defender Tony Ricketts as the new first team boss at Winterfield Road.

The combination of poor weather and cup ties has meant a number of rearrangements with the recently postponed league game at Marlow now pencilled in for Tuesday January 5 while the home match with Banbury United will now take place on Tuesday December 22.

Following the games with Supermarine and Paulton, Town go to Southampton on November 28 to take on AFC Totton before returning to the Viridor Stadium on Tuesday December 2 for the derby clash with Paul West’s Bridgwater Town.

The Robins had a fine home win over Burnham at the weekend and have climbed out of the relegation places and will be eager to redress the early season home defeat when a deflected goal in injury time robbed them of a point at Fairfax Park.

Next Monday the U18 side have a home Somerset Floodlight League match with Tiverton Town, KO 7.45pm.