TAUNTON Town broke an 18-year-old club record for league games unbeaten this week and now they’re looking to close in on promotion with three home matches coming up, writes Richard Browne.

A draw at title rivals Salisbury and victory at Barnstaple (reports on page 127) took the Peacocks to 24 Southern League games without defeat and an 11-point lead at the summit.

Manager Leigh Robinson said: “It’s a bit of a feather in our cap, as the [1999/2000] team was a hell of a good side who won the FA Vase.

“It’s another sign that the club is progressing in the right way.”

The Peacocks welcome Larkhall Athletic (Saturday, ko 3pm) and Wimborne Town (Tuesday, ko 7.45pm) to the Viridor Stadium this week, before Kidlington visit next Saturday.

Robinson hopes to have Josh Nelmes and Joel Randall back after illness and injury, respectively, but Alpha Oumar Sow – on the bench at Barnstaple – is still some way off match fitness and Keith Emmerson will miss the next two games as he is away on a pre-booked holiday.

Robinson added: “If we can put seven or nine points on the board in the next week, we’ll be closer to the finish line.”

“We’re not really looking at the opposition; all three games will be a real test and we’ll prepare the same way.

“Wimborne are in the playoff places and will be fully motivated.

“They need to win, so if the game is more open that might help us.”

Reflecting on Tuesday night's win at Barnstaple, Leigh Robinson said: “I think there was little danger of us not winning, despite it being an incredibly difficult surface to play on.

“Running with the ball was difficult and it wasn’t a great spectacle.

“But we dug in and ground out three crucial points.

“We had a good result at Salisbury, and we were keen to capitalise on that [at Barnstaple].”

On Craig Veal, he said: “We brought him into the side to give us a bit of extra energy, as we put everything into the Salisbury match.

“And I was delighted to see him pop up with the goal to put us ahead.”

And referring to Lloyd Irish’s appearance landmark, he added: “It’s fantastic; to play 200 [consecutive] games is really something special.

“He’s been a hell of a good player for us, contributing to our success, and hopefully to success in the future.”

Elsewhere this weekend, Wellington host Hallen in the Toolstation Western League Premier Division and Bishops Lydeard, who lost 2-1 at Chard Town on Wednesday night, travel to Malmesbury Victoria in the First Division.

Staplegrove are at Stockwood Green in the Somerset County League Premier Division, with Watchet Town visiting Fry Club as their title tilt gathers momentum.

Minehead are on the road to Somerton Town in Division 1 West.