TAUNTON Town have the chance to wrap up promotion over the Easter weekend following a win and a draw in the last week.

The Peacocks currently stand on 81 points at the top of the Evo-Stik Southern League West standings with eight games left.

They are 14 points clear of Salisbury, who could still deny them the title, but there are two automatic promotion places this season and Town currently hold a 20-point cushion over third spot - Bideford's failure to win at Evesham on Good Friday means only Wimborne can make up the deficit.

That means if Wimborne fail to get three points away to Bristol Manor Farm on Saturday and Taunton beat Kidlington then the Peacocks’ place in next season’s Southern League Premier Division is a mathematical certainty.

Easter Monday sees Town go to Bideford (ko 3pm), offering a second chance to crack open the champagne.

Reflecting on the last week, manager Leigh Robinson said: “They were very open games and good entertainment.

“All of our front three are looking good, with Dan Sullivan and Craig Veal very sharp and very lively.”

The manager now has another option available in the forward department, with the club confirming the signing of Senegalese striker Alpha Oumar Sow this week.

The 34-year-old has played for clubs in Morocco and France, and also represented his country at the African Nations Championship in 2009.

Robinson said: “Hopefully we can get promotion wrapped up, and then look at him with a view towards next season.”

The Peacocks hope to welcome back Keith Emmerson and Ryan Brett for Kidlington’s visit to the Viridor Stadium, after they missed Tuesday’s game due to holiday and illness, respectively.

Injured wing-back Pierce Mitchell remains a doubt, however.

Promotion may be close – and the unbeaten league run now up to 26 games – but Robinson is not taking either Kidlington or Bideford for granted.

“They’re definitely two tough games.

“It feels like an age since we last played Kidlington [on September 9, the match ending 2-2].

“We have a very different side now, and so do they.

“Bideford will have an extra day’s rest, so we will have to rotate our squad.”

The boss added: “We’re inching closer, with the point on Tuesday night.

“It’s an exciting time for us and the supporters.”

Elsewhere this weekend, Yeovil Town Ladies will host Liverpool Ladies at Taunton Town’s Viridor Stadium on Easter Sunday, after a switch of day and venue.

The match was originally scheduled for Saturday, but will now take place this Sunday, with a noon kick-off.

The Lady Glovers are currently bottom of the FA Women’s Super League 1 standings, having failed to pick up a point from nine games.

Liverpool are in fourth place and their squad contains several well-known England players, including Siobhan Chamberlain, Casey Stoney and Jess Clarke.

Tickets for the match are available to buy in advance at www.yeoviltownladies.com.

A CHARITY football match is being staged at Taunton Town’s Viridor Stadium on Sunday, April 15, in memory of Gary Edwards, who died of an undiagnosed heart condition, aged 28, in July 2015.

Gary was the son of former Taunton Town player Terry Edwards and his wife, Hilary.

Friends of Gary and team-mates who played with him will be involved in the match, which kicks off at 2pm.

All proceeds will go to the Cardiac Risk in the Young.